SONNET TO SINCERITY. __ PURE emanation of the honest
soul, Dear to my heart manly sincerity! Dissimulation shrinks, a coward
foul, Before thy noble art-detesting eye. Thou scorn’st the wretch who
acts a double part, Obsequious, servile, flatt’ring to betray, With smiling face that veils a
ranc’rous heart, Like sunny morning of tempestuous day. Thou spurn’st the sophist, with
his guilty lore, Whom int’rest prompts to weave the specious snare; In independence rich, thou own’st a store Of conscious worth, which changelings never share. Then come, bright virtue, with
thy dauntless brow, And crush deceit, vile monster, reptile-low. |