This is my best translation of the the poem
Answer:
Hes describing some sort of burden, something hard to overcome. As the characer in the poem struggles to achieve his goal. However, if he can pass through these struggles, he will be able to get what he wanted or desired.
Explanation:
I personally think this way but poems are tend to be interpretted in diffrent ways like songs. However Ill still give my best explanation.
These two lines are signifying that the thing he desired can be achieved in many ways and it is not easy to achieve them since there is no straight path and he must make up his own to acieve what he wants.
" There are no beaten paths to Glory’s height,
There are no rules to compass greatness known; "
What I said above translates these lines.
" Each for himself must cleave a path alone,
And press his own way forward in the fight. "
Same goes for these lines
" Smooth is the way to ease and calm delight,
And soft the road Sloth chooseth for her own; "
Aswell as this, refer to the answer to understand
" But he who craves the flower of life full–blown,
Must struggle up in all his armor dight! "
" What though the burden bear him sorely down
And crush to dust the mountain of his pride, "
Oh, then, with strong heart let him still abide;
For rugged is the roadway to renown, "
Ill let you do the rest, This is already quite a lot of info for you to be able to understand the poem :)
I hope it helped
Read the last line to understand him getting his desire or what he wants.
Link to the poem: https://poets.org/poem/path-0
