George Frederick Cameron (1854–1885)

WHAT is true greatness? Is ’t to climb

Above the rocks and shoals of time

To sculpture on some height sublime

A name

To live immortal in its prime

And flush of fame?

What is true greatness? Is ’t to lead

Your armèd hirelings on to bleed,

And move a terrible god, indeed,

An hour;

To sate your lust of gold, or greed

Of despot power?

What is true greatness? Question not,

But go to yon secluded spot

And enter yonder humble cot

And find

A husbandman who never fought

Or wronged his kind:

For whom the lips of war are dumb:

Who loves far more than beat of drum

The cattle’s low, the insect’s hum

In air:

And find true greatness in its sum

And total there!

What is true Greatness? ’Tis to clear

From sorrow’s eye the glistening tear:

To comfort there, to cherish here,

To bless:

To aid, encourage, and to cheer

Distress.