Classic Poem

The times change and we change with them
(Callahan)

Aspiring thoughts led Phaethon amiss;
Proud Icarus did fall, he soar'd so high;
Seek not to climb with fond Semiramis,
Lest son revenge the father's injury.
Take heed, ambition is a sugr'd ill,
That Fortune lays, presumptuous minds to spill.

The bitter grief that frets the quiet mind,
The sting that pricks the forward man to woe,
Is envy, which in honour seld we find,
And yet to honor sworn a secret foe.
Learn this of me, envy not other's state;
The fruits of envy are envy and hate.

The misty cloud that so eclipseth fame,
That gets reward a chaos of despite,
Is black revenge, which ever winneth shame,
A fury vile that's hatched in the night.
Beware, seek not revenge against thy foe,
Lest once revenge thy fortune overgo.

There blazing comets do foreshow mishap;
Let not the flaming lights offend thine eye.
Look ere thou leap, prevent an after-clap;
There three, forewarned, well may'st thou fly.
If now by choice thou aim'st at happy health,
Eschew self-love, choose for the Commonwealth.