Classic Poem

ODE LVI

1

 Tis not to make a Partie; or to joyne
With any Side, that I am what I am.
 All Faction, I abhorre, all Sects disclaime;
And meerly Love of Truth, unto the Shyne
Of Reason, which I have,
 Guides me; for had I sought, to other Ends,
 I could have bene as popular, as brave
And had as many freinds,
To support all I undertooke, as they
Who move beyond me now, and more display.

2

For Hee, who setts a valew on his Heart,
 May what he lists Atcheive. I am as free
To either Side, or Anie; as I see
 Truth, to the Skale incline. I have noe part
Beyond the naturall
 Free use of Reason; and I cannot bend
 To any blast of Time; nor Stoop, nor fall
To a sinister End;
But must encounter, where my Reason guides,
The Puissance of Any, Either Side.

3

And I am fixt; but yet not rooted in
Opinion, to the hazard of a haire.
 I am not limited to anie Square;
 But free to any better; I have bin
Perhaps not ever thus;
 And am as Apt, if a Cleare Motive draw
 My Reason, yet to Change. Ime free to chuse,
And doe not care a Straw,
How others Censure; for I must incline
To truth, as my Faith guides, in her best Shine.

4

And as I stand, all Reason I yet know
 Warrants the Path I tread in: all I heare
 In controverted Causes, makes it cleare;
For tis not Force of Argument can bow
Mee, to another forme;
 But a cleare Evidence of Truth; which must
 Shoot liveing raies, to quicken and informe
The Soule; and wee may trust
Her secret workings. If wee loose this mind,
She doth not faile to worke; but wee are blind.

5

 How cleare I stand to Truth! and doe not breath
 To any purpose, if I let her goe;
Had I ben mercenarie, there was no
Second respect, but stood to tempt my faith.
I might have sitt upon
 The wheele of Action, high and Eminent.
 I am not meerlie Dull; I could have done
By a safe President,
As well as other men; and had I made
But that my End, it had bene noe ill trade.

6

Had Politicke respects invited mee,
 You cannot thinke, I would have gon this way.
 I am derided; and you will not say,
 I can grow wealthy; Scorne and Povertie
Attends each Step I tread;
Yet am I fixt. I doe not value Life
Nor name, nor Fortune; neither am I led
By a Demonstrative
 Rule, in the Case; nor willinglie admitt
 Humane Devices, Subtletye of witt.

7

 Though further be it from me, to Affect
That obstinacie, which I must confesse
Is not in nature void; that frowardnes
 Many assume, meerlye to contradict
I am not in the List,
 Truth be my wittnes; but I looke on things
 With a cleare Eye, a Judgment not possest;
For prejudice still brings
A moat for Either; but I doe my part
To all I am, with a Clear, Single Heart.

8

 If Single Love of Truth; if Innocence;
 If to neglect opinion; not to Strive
 For popular Applause; if to beleive
From principles, which in themselves convince,
Be to be factious; if
To labour for an inward Peace, and Sitt
A sad Spectator, of the common greife;
If to renounce my witt,
 And looke on Quiet meerlie, be a Crime!
 I am not wise Enough to observe the Time.