What is fame? a fancied life in others' breath.
The zeal of fools offends at any time.
Fear not the anger of the wise to raise; Those best can bear reproof who merit praise.
The hungry judges soon the sentence sign, and wretches hang that jurymen may dine.
Chiefs who no more in bloody fights engage, But wise through time, and narrative with age, In summer-days like grasshoppers rejoice - A bloodless race, that send a feeble voice.
Praise from a friend, or censure from a foe, Are lost on hearers that our merits know.