Perseverance

Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519)

From the Italian by William Wetmore Story

IN facile natures fancies quickly grow,

But such quick fancies have but little root.

Soon the narcissus flowers and dies, but slow

The tree whose blossoms shall mature to fruit.

Grace is a moment’s happy feeling, Power

A life’s slow growth; and we for many an hour

Must strain and toil, and wait and weep, if we

The perfect fruit of all we are would see.