True Greatness

What is true greatness ? Is 't to climb
Above the rocks and shoals of time
To sculpture on some height sublime
A name
To live immortal in its prime
And flush of fame ?

What is true greatness ? Is 't to lead
Your armed hirelings on to bleed,
And move a terrible god, indeed,
An hour ;
To sate your lust of gold, or greed
Of despot power ?

What is true greatness ? Question not,
But go to yon secluded spot
And enter yonder humble cot
And find
A husbandman who never fought
Or wronged his kind :

For whom the lips of war are dumb :
Who loves far more than beat of drum
The cattle's low, the insect's hum
In air :
And find true greatness in its sum
And total there !
What is true Greatness ? 'Tis to clear
From sorrow's eye the glistening tear :
To comfort there, to cherish here,
To bless :
To aid, encourage, and to cheer
Distress.