Bad Men
Let no persuasive art tempt you to place
Your confidence in crafty minds and base.
How can it answer? Will their help avail,
When danger presses, and your foes assail?
The blessing, which the gods in bounty send,
Will they consent to share it with a friend?
No. To bestrew the waves with scattered grain,
To cultivate the surface of the main,
Is not a task more absolutely vain,
Than cultivating such allies as these,
Fickle, and unproductive as the seas.
Such are all baser minds. Never at rest,
With new demands importunately prest,
A new pretension or a new request;
Till foiled with the refusal of the last,
They disavow their obligations past.
But brave and gallant hearts are cheaply gained,
Faithful adherents easily retained;
Men that will never disavow the debt
Of gratitude or cancel or forget.
Never engage with a poltroon or craven;
Avoid him, Kurnos, as a treacherous haven;
Those friends and hearty comrades, as you think,
Ready to join you, when you feast and drink,
Those easy friends from difficulty shrink.
Your confidence in crafty minds and base.
How can it answer? Will their help avail,
When danger presses, and your foes assail?
The blessing, which the gods in bounty send,
Will they consent to share it with a friend?
No. To bestrew the waves with scattered grain,
To cultivate the surface of the main,
Is not a task more absolutely vain,
Than cultivating such allies as these,
Fickle, and unproductive as the seas.
Such are all baser minds. Never at rest,
With new demands importunately prest,
A new pretension or a new request;
Till foiled with the refusal of the last,
They disavow their obligations past.
But brave and gallant hearts are cheaply gained,
Faithful adherents easily retained;
Men that will never disavow the debt
Of gratitude or cancel or forget.
Never engage with a poltroon or craven;
Avoid him, Kurnos, as a treacherous haven;
Those friends and hearty comrades, as you think,
Ready to join you, when you feast and drink,
Those easy friends from difficulty shrink.
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Comments
Loved the flow, rhyme and
Loved the flow, rhyme and message delivered in this poem. Thank you!
Bette Podgurski
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"Bad Men" by John Hookham
"Bad Men" by John Hookham Frere - A Cautionary Tale of Choosing Allies Wisely
"Bad Men" by John Hookham Frere is a didactic poem that offers sage advice on the perils of placing trust in deceitful and unscrupulous individuals. Through vivid imagery and succinct language, the poem delivers a cautionary message about the dangers of aligning oneself with base and unreliable characters.
Frere begins by warning against the allure of persuasive individuals with ulterior motives, cautioning readers against placing their confidence in those with crafty minds and base intentions. The poem highlights the futility of seeking assistance from such individuals in times of trouble, as they are unlikely to offer genuine support when faced with danger or adversity. Instead, they are depicted as opportunistic and self-serving, unwilling to share blessings or honor obligations to others.
The contrast between "brave and gallant hearts" and "baser minds" is starkly drawn, with the former portrayed as loyal and dependable allies who honor their commitments and express gratitude, while the latter is characterized as unreliable and ungrateful, quick to abandon their obligations and seek personal gain.
Frere's use of metaphorical language, such as comparing cultivating alliances with base individuals to scattering grain on the waves or cultivating the surface of the sea, effectively conveys the sense of futility and absurdity inherent in relying on such unreliable allies. The imagery of the sea, with its unpredictable and unproductive nature, serves as a powerful symbol of the inherent instability and unreliability of base individuals.
In conclusion, "Bad Men" serves as a timeless reminder of the importance of choosing allies wisely and avoiding association with deceitful and untrustworthy individuals. Frere's poem imparts valuable lessons about the true nature of loyalty and friendship, urging readers to prioritize relationships with those who demonstrate integrity, loyalty, and genuine goodwill.
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