Prudence, No. II

Prudence, No. II. [No. 41]

So in the Voyage of Life, the Mason must
Have Prudence at the Helm, if he would miss
Or Scylla’s Rock or Whirlpool Charybdis.
Let him in the Great Architect o’er trust,
And calmly do his Duty. If men praise 5
His valiant efforts, well; but if they blame
His noble conduct, let it be the same
To him, who only seeks to help to raise
Mankind to their true Level. Fortitude
Is ever needed by the Wise and Good: 10
Without it, no Greatness ever stood
The attacks of Despots or the Multitude
Be the true Mason guarded at all points,
And Prudence will protect even his Armour’s joints.

by George Markham Tweddell  1st published 1887