Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

On
HONOUR.

Not all the threats or favours of a crown,
A prince's whisper, or a tyrant's frown,
Can awe the spirit, or allure the mind
Of him who to strict honour is inclined.
On higher springs men of true honour move,
Free is their service, and unbought their love
When danger calls, and honour leads the way,
With joy they follow, and, with pride obey.
Honour, that spark of the celestial fire,
That, above nature, makes mankind aspire;
Ennobles the rude passions of our frame,
With thirst of glory, and desire of fame:
The richest treasure of a generous breast,
That gives the stamp and standard to the rest;
Wit, strength, and courage, are wild dangerous force,
Unless this soften, and direct their course.
There is nothing honourable that is not innocent,
and nothing mean but what has guilt in it. He who
can say to himself, I do as much good, and am as virtuous
as my most earnest endeavours will allow me,
whatever is his station in the world, is to himself
possessed of the highest honour: but false notions of
honour are the greatest depravities of human nature,
by giving wrong, ambitious and false ideas of what
is good and honourable.