Defend Not

Defend it not, defend it not,
This wretched world below;
Defend its gaping people not,
Who care for nought but pomp and show.

The tedious ones, defend them not,
Who cause us such ennui;
The learned ones, defend them not,
In their o’erpow’ring pedantry.

The women, too, defend them not,
Though good ones may be there;
The best amongst them scorneth not
The man she loves not, to ensnare.

And then my friends--defend them not:
Count not thyself one now;
For thou those friends resemblest not,--
No! firm, and good, and true art thou.