The True Liberal

The truest Liberal is he
Who sees the man in each degree,
Who merit in a churl can prize,
And baseness in an earl despise,
Yet censures baseness in a churl,
And dares find merit in an earl.

Robert Fuller Murray

Robert Fuller Murray was a Scottish poet known for his lyrical and expressive poetry. Born on December 26, 1863, in Roxbury, Massachusetts, he moved to Scotland at a young age. Despite a short life, ending on April 15, 1894, Murray left a significant mark with his works, which often reflected themes of nature and human emotion. His poetry is characterized by its elegance and depth of feeling. Murray's influence remained through posthumous publications and collections of his poetry.

Robert Fuller Murray

The Haunted Chamber

Robert Fuller Murray, Simple Poetry

A Ballad Of The Town Water

Robert Fuller Murray, Simple Poetry

A Birthday Gift

Robert Fuller Murray, Simple Poetry

Vanity Of Vanities

Robert Fuller Murray, Simple Poetry

English

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Why I Am A Liberal

"Why?" Because all I haply can and do,
All that I am now, all I hope to be,
Whence comes it save from fortune setting free
Body and soul the purpose to pursue,
God traced for both? If fetters, not a few,
Of prejudice, convention, fall from me,
These shall I bid men, each in his degree
Also God-guided bear, and gayly, too?

But little do or can the best of us:
That little is achieved through Liberty.
Who, then, dares hold, emancipated thus,
His fellow shall continue bound? Not I,
Who live, love, labour freely, nor discuss
A brother's right to freedom. That is "Why."

Robert Browning

My Sort O' Man

I don't believe in 'ristercrats
An' never did, you see;
The plain ol' homelike sorter folks
Is good enough fur me.
O' course, I don't desire a man
To be too tarnal rough,
But then, I think all folks should know
When they air nice enough.

Now there is folks in this here world,
From peasant up to king,
Who want to be so awful nice
They overdo the thing.
That's jest the thing that makes me sick,
An' quicker 'n a wink
I set it down that them same folks
Ain't half so good 's you think.

I like to see a man dress nice,
In clothes becomin' too;
I like to see a woman fix
As women orter to do;
An' boys an' gals I like to see
Look fresh an' young an' spry.--
We all must have our vanity
An' pride before we die.

But...

Paul Laurence Dunbar

Lost Liberty

Of our own will we are not free,
    When freedom lies within our power.
    We wait for some decisive hour,
To rise and take our liberty.

Still we delay, content to be
    Imprisoned in our own high tower.
    What is it but a strong-built bower?
Ours are the warders, ours the key.

But we through indolence grow weak.
    Our warders, fed with power so long,
            Become at last our lords indeed.
We vainly threaten, vainly seek
    To move their ruth.    The bars are strong.
            We dash against them till we bleed.

Robert Fuller Murray

Epistle To James Craggs, Esq., Secretary Of State.

A soul as full of worth, as void of pride,
Which nothing seeks to show, or needs to hide,
Which nor to guilt nor fear its caution owes,
And boasts a warmth that from no passion flows.
A face untaught to feign; a judging eye,
That darts severe upon a rising lie,
And strikes a blush through frontless flattery.
All this thou wert; and being this before,
Know, kings and fortune cannot make thee more.
Then scorn to gain a friend by servile ways,
Nor wish to lose a foe these virtues raise;
But candid, free, sincere, as you began,
Proceed--a minister, but still a man.
Be not (exalted to whate'er degree)
Ashamed of any friend, not even of me:
The patriot's plain, but untrod path pursue;
If not, 'tis I must be ashamed of you.

Alexander Pope

How To Make A Good Politician.

Whene'er you're in doubt, said a Sage I once knew,
'Twixt two lines of conduct which course to pursue,
Ask a woman's advice, and, whate'er she advise,
Do the very reverse and you're sure to be wise.

Of the same use as guides the Brunswicker throng;
In their thoughts, words and deeds, so instinctively wrong,
That whatever they counsel, act, talk or indite,
Take the opposite course and you're sure to be right.

So golden this rule, that, had nature denied you
The use of that finger-post, Reason, to guide you--
Were you even more doltish than any given man is,
More soft than Newcastle, more twaddling than Van is.
I'd stake my repute, on the following conditions,
To make you the soundest of sound politicians.

Place yourself near the skirts of some hi...

Thomas Moore

Greek Title

Ever to be the best.    To lead
    In whatsoever things are true;
    Not stand among the halting crew,
The faint of heart, the feeble-kneed,
Who tarry for a certain sign
    To make them follow with the rest--
Oh, let not their reproach be thine!
    But ever be the best.

For want of this aspiring soul,
    Great deeds on earth remain undone,
    But, sharpened by the sight of one,
Many shall press toward the goal.
Thou running foremost of the throng,
    The fire of striving in thy breast,
Shalt win, although the race be long,
    And ever be the best.

And wilt thou question of the prize?
    'Tis not of silver or of gold,
    Nor in applauses manifold,
But hidden in the heart it lies:
To know that but for thee not one
 ...

Robert Fuller Murray