William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Restoration Verse. 1910.
Themistas ReproofRichard Brathwaite (1588?1673)
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And never winneth any ground;
Or th’ dying scion of a vine
That rather breaks than it will twine;
Or th’ sightless mole whose life is spent
Divided from her element;
Or plants removed from Tagus’ shore
Who never bloom nor blossom more;
Or dark Cimmerians who delight
In shady shroud of pitchy night;
Or mopping apes who are possessed
Their cubs are ever prettiest:
So he who makes his own opinion
To be his one and only minion,
Nor will incline in any season
To th’ weight of proof or strength of reason,
But prefers will precipitate
’Fore judgment that’s deliberate;
He ne’er shall lodge within my roof
Till, rectified by due reproof,
He labours to reform this ill
By giving way to others’ will.