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Joined: Sep 2004
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"Best they honor thee Who honor in thee only what is best." -William Watson, poet (1858-1935)

What does this mean? Is it "they" or "thee" that the restrictive clause "who..." modifies?

Sorry. I racked my brain in vain to figure it out.

I’m learning English. If u find anywhere I can improve my composition, Pls do let me know. Bow.


Do inform me if you see any corrections needed in my written English.
#133680 10/05/04 01:08 AM
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THE TRUE PATRIOTISM

The ever-lustrous name of patriot
To no man be denied because he saw
Where in his country's wholeness lay the flaw,
Where, on her whiteness, the unseemly blot.
England! thy loyal sons condemn thee.--What!
Shall we be meek who from thine own breasts draw
Our fierceness? Not ev'n thou shalt overawe
Us thy proud children nowise basely got.
Be this the measure of our loyalty--
To feel thee noble and weep thy lapse the more.
This truth by thy true servants is confess'd--
Thy sins, who love thee most, do most deplore.
Know thou thy faithful! Best they honour thee
Who honour in thee only what is best.



#133681 10/05/04 01:34 AM
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is a pernicious, psychopathic form of idiocy.


#133682 10/05/04 03:11 AM
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One had rather hoped to assist callithump in identifying the referents to the pronouns in the quotation by setting it in the context of Watson's complete poem.

And Watson's notions about patriotism strike me as both benign and rational.


#133683 10/05/04 04:25 AM
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Sorry, Your Honour. I had not discerned your intent, saw only a poem posted without explanation, commentary or attribution, and jumped to the contusion that this had become a thread for quotes on the subject of the patriotism. I shall go back to my telepthy courses, head bowed in shame at my failure.


#133684 10/05/04 04:51 AM
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No problem, Max.

Ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis.

I thought perhaps I held the title for jumping to unwarranted conclusions on this board, but I am willing to share that ignominy with another.



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The who refers to the they. They honor…, who honor… What Watson is saying is that someone who honors you for your bad traits is not honoring you for the right reasons. You should be honored for your good.


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Thanks, Faldage. Your post did what Fr. Steve said his first was intended to, but without the requirement to divine your intent.


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So can I parse the sentence as

'They, who honor in thee only what is best, honor thee best'

or, in plainer meaning,

'They [who] honor thee best [are thoese] who honor in thee only what is best'?

I’m learning English. If u find anywhere I can improve my composition, Pls do let me know. Bow.


Do inform me if you see any corrections needed in my written English.
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... divine your intent.

Wonderful, Max.




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