Amour-propre

Oh, fair maiden, with golden hair and brow

Overwhelmed with your beauty,

We wonder how

Conceit and disdain,

Pride and contempt--

All selfish sins,

Have marred your looks

And chase away those you most desire.

Like a spider hanging from its thread,

Dangling between life and death,

Your egotism fills others with dread.

Boastful, you exaggerate your sense of self-worth.

Hypocritical, feigning virtues you do not have.

Scornful of obedience, you submit alone to your own rule.

Contentious, you quarrel to feel superior.

Obstinately you reject opinions that aren’t your own.

Discordant, your drama sows discontent.

Whimsical, you favor novelty over truth.

Envious, you would diminish the good of others.

Arrogant, your ambition knows no bounds. 

Reap then, daughter of poison, progeny of pride,

The ignominy you project onto others.

Such is your lot, that your sins have bought,

Down you fall from the grace that hubris rejects!

May Mortification lead

You ‘round to appreciate,

Embrace and esteem  

The queen of virtues: humility.

Perfection belongs to God alone.

Being small, more easily you attain great things.