 tis the price of toil; The knave deserves it, when he tills the soil, The knave deserves it, when he tempts the main, Where folly fights for kings, or dives for gain. The good man may be weak, be indolent; Nor is his claim to plenty, but content.  Der Mensch, ein philosophisches Gedicht - Page 39by Alexander Pope - 1772 - 351 pagesFull view - About this book
 | Alexander Pope - 1993 - 776 pages
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 | Jenny Davidson - Literary Criticism - 2004 - 256 pages
...makes a witty play on the meanings of "reward," "merit" and "deserves": "Sometimes virtue starves, while vice is fed; / What then? is the reward of virtue...vice may merit; 'tis the price of toil; / The knave deserves it, when he tills the soil." The quotation puts pressure on exactly the point in which Austen... | |
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