To A Friend Who Had Been Much Abused In Many Inveterate Libels
The greatest monarch may be stabb'd by night And fortune help the murderer in his flight; The vilest ruffian may commit a rape, Yet safe from injured innocence escape; And calumny, by working under ground, Can, unrevenged, the greatest merit wound. What's to be done? Shall wit and learning choose To live obscure, and have no fame to lose? By Censure[1] frighted out of Honour's road, Nor dare to use the gifts by Heaven bestow'd? Or fearless enter in through Virtue's gate, And buy distinction at the dearest rate.
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"The greatest monarch may be stabb'd by night..."
Exploring the themes of classic, Jonathan Swift delivers a powerful performance in "To A Friend Who Had Been Much Abused In Many Inveterate Libels"... ### Why We Love This Line At Linespedia, we believe that poetry is the ultimate sanctuary for the soul...