Classic Poem

Wouldst thou have sorrows manifold,
And prove that friendship can grow cold,
And love itself be bought and sold,
Without regret;
And feel the great world's god is gold?
Go into debt.

Wouldst thou lose faith in human worth,
Have no one left to love on earth,
And be to callous souls for mirth,
In mock'ry set;
And curse the hour that gave thee birth?
Go into debt.

Wouldst bid adieu to pleasure's rays,
And find the world a weary maze,
And wander on through crooked ways,
With thorns beset;
Have sleepless nights and weary days?
Go into debt.

Wouldst bid adieu to honor's beam,
And see depart fame's happy dream,
Be slave to creatures low and mean,
Whose creed is Get;
Be fallen in thine own esteem?
Go into debt.

And wouldst thou be the very slave
Of any selfish, sordid knave,
From morn till night to sit and rave —
Within a net —
And find peace only in the grave?
Go into debt.

Wouldst thou forswear man's soul and stature,
Renounce thy very name and nature,
Have coward stamp'd on every feature,
Thyself forget,
And live a crawling, creeping creature?
Go into debt.

But if thou'dst know of no disgrace,
And look the whole world in the face,
And have 'mong men an honor'd place,
A watch thou'lt set,
That pride nor passion e'er shall chase
Thee into debt.