Classic Poem

WHEREIN HE ENLARGES UPON THE DOLOROUS CONSEQUENCES OF UNCURBED ANGER

Though brilliant stone and bronze depict the son
Of Philip conquering empires in his path,
That conqueror was conquered by his wrath,
Left for the moment less than Macedon;
Wrath to such frenzy swept brave Tydeus on
That, dying, he devoured his foe; how hath
The fury blinded Sylla in his bath,
And in the end brought black oblivion!
And Valentinian was well aware
Of such sad consequence; and Ajax failed,
The slayer of scores against himself prevailed.
Ah, wrath is madness and, unchecked, the snare
To greater madness which leads, breath by breath,
To monstrous crime and misery and death!