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man alone is wise Who keeps the mastery of himself! If one Ponders
on objects of the sense, there springs Attraction; from attraction
grows desire, Desire flames to fierce passion, passion breeds
Recklessness; then the memory- all betrayed- Lets noble purpose go,
and saps the mind, Till purpose, mind, and man are all undone.
But, if one deals with objects of the
sense Not loving and not hating, making them Serve his free soul,
which rests serenely lord, Lo! such a man comes to tranquility; And
out of that tranquility shall rise The end and healing of his
earthly pains, Since the will governed sets the soul at peace.
The soul of the ungoverned is not his,
Nor hath he knowledge of himself; which lacked, How grows
serenity? and, wanting that, Whence shall he hope for happiness? The
mind That gives itself to follow shows of sense Seeth its
helm of wisdom rent away, And, like a ship in waves of whirlwind,
drives To wreck and death.
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