The Poetical Works of John Critchley Prince Edited by R. A. Douglas Lithgow |
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THE PARTITION OF THE EARTH.
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 | The Poetical Works of John Critchley Prince |  |
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THE PARTITION OF THE EARTH.
PARAPHRASED FROM THE GERMAN OF SCHILLER.
“Take the Earth!” uttered God, from the height of His throne,
As He looked on the children He made, from above:
“Take the Earth, with its treasures, and call it your own,
But divide it with justice and brotherly love!”
As He looked on the children He made, from above:
“Take the Earth, with its treasures, and call it your own,
But divide it with justice and brotherly love!”
By myriads men came when they heard the decree,—
Age, manhood, and youth hurried on in the race;
The husbandman ruled o'er the corn-covered lea,—
The forest was given to the sons of the chase.
Age, manhood, and youth hurried on in the race;
The husbandman ruled o'er the corn-covered lea,—
The forest was given to the sons of the chase.
The merchant took all that his stores would contain,
While the priest—holy man! took the choicest of wine;
The king took the highways and byways for gain,
By a law which the people believed was divine.
While the priest—holy man! took the choicest of wine;
The king took the highways and byways for gain,
By a law which the people believed was divine.
At length, when each mortal rejoiced in his lot,
Came the poet, who loved not the boisterous throng;
But, alas! when he came he beheld not a spot,
Save the breadth of a grave, for the pilgrim of song.
Came the poet, who loved not the boisterous throng;
But, alas! when he came he beheld not a spot,
Save the breadth of a grave, for the pilgrim of song.
Then he threw himself down at the throne of his Sire,
And cried to the Being who gave him his birth,—
“Oh! grant a poor outcast his only desire,
Let the child of Thy wrath be forgotten on earth.”
And cried to the Being who gave him his birth,—
“Oh! grant a poor outcast his only desire,
Let the child of Thy wrath be forgotten on earth.”
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God said, “If thou liv'st in the empire of thought,
The cause of thy sorrow pertains not to me:—
Where, where hast thou stayed while My bidding was wrought?”
Said the Poet, “Oh, God! I was near unto Thee!
The cause of thy sorrow pertains not to me:—
Where, where hast thou stayed while My bidding was wrought?”
Said the Poet, “Oh, God! I was near unto Thee!
“If my eyes were entranced by Thy glory and might,
And my ears by the music that breathes in Thy skies;
If my soul was absorbed in Thy love and Thy light,
Forgive that the Earth disappeared from mine eyes.”
And my ears by the music that breathes in Thy skies;
If my soul was absorbed in Thy love and Thy light,
Forgive that the Earth disappeared from mine eyes.”
“Content thee,” God said, “for Earth's riches are given,—
As such was My pleasure, and hence My decree,
Thou shalt live with thy Lord in His own blessed heaven,
For whenever thou comest 'tis open to thee!”
As such was My pleasure, and hence My decree,
Thou shalt live with thy Lord in His own blessed heaven,
For whenever thou comest 'tis open to thee!”
| The Poetical Works of John Critchley Prince | |