TO THE INFALLIBLE

("Ionica," 1858, p. 60)

Old angler, what device is thine

To draw my pleasant friends from me?

Thou fishest with a silken line

Not the coarse nets of Galilee.

In stagnant vivaries they lie,

Forgetful of their ancient haunts;

And how shall he that standeth by

Refrain his open mouth from taunts?

How? by remembering this, that he,

Like them, in eddies whirled about,

Felt less: for thus they disagree:

He can, they could not, bear to doubt.

Ionica · 第 103 / 109 题