Perseverance, dear my lord, Keeps honor bright

Life every man holds dear; but the dear man holds honor far more precious than life

Life every man holds dear; but the dear man holds honor far more precious dear than life.

But Hercules himself must yield to odds; And many strokes, though with a little axe, Hews down and fells the hardest-timbered oak.

I am tied to the stake, and I must stand the course.

Perseverance, dear my lord, Keeps honor bright; to have done, is to hang Quite out of fashion, like a rusty mail In monumental mock'ry.