Believe not those who say <br />The upward path is smooth, <br />Lest thou shouldst stumble in the way <br />And faint before the truth. <br />It is the only road <br />Unto the realms of joy; <br />But he who seeks that blest abode <br />Must all his powers employ. <br /> <br />Bright hopes and pure delights <br />Upon his course may beam, <br />And there amid the sternest heights, <br />The sweetest flowerets gleam; -- <br /> <br />On all her breezes borne <br />Earth yields no scents like those; <br />But he, that dares not grasp the thorn <br />Should never crave the rose. <br /> <br />Arm, arm thee for the fight! <br />Cast useless loads away: <br />Watch through the darkest hours of night; <br />Toil through the hottest day. <br /> <br />Crush pride into the dust, <br />Or thou must needs be slack; <br />And trample down rebellious lust, <br />Or it will hold thee back. <br /> <br />Seek not thy treasure here; <br />Waive pleasure and renown; <br />The World's dread scoff undaunted bear, <br />And face its deadliest frown. <br /> <br />To labour and to love, <br />To pardon and endure, <br />To lift thy heart to God above, <br />And keep thy conscience pure, -- <br /> <br />Be this thy constant aim, <br />Thy hope and thy delight, -- <br />What matters who should whisper blame, <br />Or who should scorn or slight? <br /> <br />What matters -- if thy God approve, <br />And if within thy breast, <br />Thou feel the comfort of his love, <br />The earnest of his rest?<br /><br />Anne Brontë<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-narrow-way-4/
