A brave endeavor To do thy duty, whate'er its worth, Is better than life with love forever And love is the sweetest thing on earth. - James Jeffrey Roche

I 'd rather be handsome than homely;
I 'd rather be youthful than old;
If I can't have a bushel of silver
I'll do with a barrel of gold.

The love of man and woman is as fire
To warm, to light, but surely to consume
And self-consuming die…
But comrade-love is as a welding blast
Of candid flame and ardent temperature:
Glowing more fervent, it doth bind more fast;
And melting both but makes the union sure.
The dross alone is burnt—till at the last
The steel, if cold, is one and strong and pure.

The net of law is spread so wide,
No sinner from its sweep may hide.
Its meshes are so fine and strong
They take in every child of wrong.
O wondrous web of mystery !
Big fish alone escape from thee !