And but two ways are offered to our will,
Toil with rare triumph, ease with safe disgrace,
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And but two ways are offered to our will,
Toil with rare triumph, ease with safe disgrace,
The problem still for us and all of human race.

To liken them to your auld-warld squad,
I must needs say comparisons are odd.

To liken them to your auld-warld squad,
I must needs say comparisons are odd.

It has all the contortions of the sibyl without the inspiration.

It has all the contortions of the sibyl without the inspiration.

Not worthy to carry the buckler unto him.

Not worthy to carry the buckler unto him.

At whose sight, like the sun,
All others with diminish'd lustre shone.

At whose sight, like the sun,
All others with diminish'd lustre shone.

They say comparisons are odious. I say: compared to what?

They say comparisons are odious. I say: compared to what?

Such are thou and I: but what I am thou canst not be; what thou
art any one of read more

Such are thou and I: but what I am thou canst not be; what thou
art any one of the multitude may be.
[Lat., Hoc ego, tuque sumus: set quod sum, non potes esse:
Tu quod es, e populo quilibet esse potest.]

Comparisons do ofttime great grievance.

Comparisons do ofttime great grievance.

Some are good, some are middling, the most are bad.
[Lat., Sunt bona, sunt quaedam mediocria, sunt mala plura.]

Some are good, some are middling, the most are bad.
[Lat., Sunt bona, sunt quaedam mediocria, sunt mala plura.]