The lowest trees have tops, the ant her gall,
The fly her spleen, the little spark his heat;
And slender hairs cast shadows though but small,
And bees have stings although they be not great;
Seas have their source, and so have shallow springs,
And love is love in beggars and in kings.
Where waters smoothest run deep are the fords;
The dial stirs, yet none perceives it move;
The firmest faith is in the fewest words;
The turtles cannot sing and yet they love,
True hearts have eyes and ears, no tongues to speak;
They hear and see and sigh, and then they break.
The fly her spleen, the little spark his heat;
And slender hairs cast shadows though but small,
And bees have stings although they be not great;
Seas have their source, and so have shallow springs,
And love is love in beggars and in kings.
Where waters smoothest run deep are the fords;
The dial stirs, yet none perceives it move;
The firmest faith is in the fewest words;
The turtles cannot sing and yet they love,
True hearts have eyes and ears, no tongues to speak;
They hear and see and sigh, and then they break.