Equivocation

But of thy virtues didst thou make a vice, Trafficking with them in a purpose cold For present anger and for future gold, And buying others' grief at any price, And thus once entered into crooked ways.

The early truth, which was thy proper praise, Did not still walk beside thee, but at times, And with a breast unknowing its own crimes, Deceit, avertments, incompatible, Equivocations and the thoughts which dwell, In Janus' spirits the significant eye, Which learns to lie with silence the pretext, Of prudence with advantages annexed.

The acquiescence in all things which tend, No matter how, to the desired end, All found a place in thy philosophy.

The means were worthy, and the end is won.

On things thou were not, and on things that are, Even upon such a basis hast thou built, A monument whose cement hath been gilt.

The moral Clytemnestra of thy lord, Intued down with an unsuspected sword, Fame, peace, and hope, and all the better life, Which, but for this cold treason of thy heart, Might still have risen from out the grave of strife.

and found a nobler duty than to part but of thy virtues didst thou make a vice trafficking with them in a purpose cold for present anger and for future gold and buying others grief at any price and thus once entered into crooked ways the early truth which was thy proper praise did not still walk beside thee but at times and with a breast unknowing its own crimes deceit a vermin's incompatible Equivocations and the thoughts which dwell, In Jaina's spirits the significant eye, Which learns to lie with silence the pretext Of prudence with advantages annexed.

The acquiescence in all things which tend, No matter how, to the desired end, All found a place in thy philosophy.

But of thy virtues didst thou make a vice, Trafficking with them in a purpose cold, For present anger, and for future gold, And buying others' grief at any price.

And thus, once entered into crooked ways, The early truth, which was thy proper praise, Did not still walk beside thee, but, at times, And with a breast unknowing its own crimes, Deceit, a vermin incompatible, Equivocations, and the thoughts which dwell In Janus' spirits, the significant eye Which learns to lie with silence, the pretext Of prudence, with advantages annexed, The acquiescence in all things which tend, No matter how, to the desired end, All found a place in thy philosophy.

The means were worthy, and the end is won.

I would not do by thee as thou hast done.

And thus upon the world trust in thy truth And the wild fame of my ungoverned youth, On things that were not, and on things that are.

Even upon such a basis hast thou built A monument whose cement hath been guilt, The moral Clytemnestra of thy lord, And hewed down with an unsuspected sword Fame, peace, and hope, and all the better life, Which but for this cold treason of thy heart Might still have risen from out the grave of strife, And found a nobler duty than to part.

But of thy virtues didst thou make a vice, Trafficking with them in a purpose cold For present anger and for future gold, And buying others' grief at any price: And thus once entered into crooked ways, The early truth which was thy proper praise Did not still walk beside thee, but at times, And with a breast unknowing its own crimes, Deceit, averments incompatible, Equivocations, and the thoughts which dwell In Janus spirits, the significant eye Which learns to lie with silence, the pretext Of prudence with advantages annexed, The acquiescence in all things which tend, No matter how, to the desired end, All found a place in thy philosophy.

The means were worthy, and the end is won; I would not do by thee as thou hast done End of poem.