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262
THE SOWING OF THE DRAGON'S TEETH.
A HINT TO CERTAIN EMPERORS.
Jason once, as legends show,
Dared, O kings, your deed to do;
He, the dragon's teeth, dared sow—
Sow the seed that's sown by you;
But, with evil striving, he
To a god for aid could look:
Yours must greater perils be;
You, your God long since forsook.
Despots, despots, sow your seed!
Dragon's teeth you sow; what then?
Of your harvest, kings, take heed!
For it rises, armèd men.
Dared, O kings, your deed to do;
He, the dragon's teeth, dared sow—
Sow the seed that's sown by you;
But, with evil striving, he
To a god for aid could look:
Yours must greater perils be;
You, your God long since forsook.
Despots, despots, sow your seed!
Dragon's teeth you sow; what then?
Of your harvest, kings, take heed!
For it rises, armèd men.
Hate and wrong, each tyrant flings
Broadcast—hate and wrong alone;
Let them dread the crop that springs,
Soon or late, from what they've sown.
Hate alone from hate shall rise;
Evil still from evil springs.
You have sown but groans and cries;
You shall reap the same, O kings.
Despots, despots, sow your seed!
Dragon's teeth you sow; what then?
Of your harvest, kings, take heed!
For it rises, armèd men.
Broadcast—hate and wrong alone;
Let them dread the crop that springs,
Soon or late, from what they've sown.
Hate alone from hate shall rise;
Evil still from evil springs.
You have sown but groans and cries;
You shall reap the same, O kings.
Despots, despots, sow your seed!
Dragon's teeth you sow; what then?
Of your harvest, kings, take heed!
For it rises, armèd men.
Woe to them that day! Oh, woe!
When that ghastly crop is born;
When the truth they then shall know
Of the warnings now they scorn.
How in that great judgment-day,
Lord! thy justice shall be known!
When the chainless earth shall say,
“Kings, you reap but as you've sown!”
Despots, despots, sow your seed!
Dragon's teeth you sow; what then?
Of your harvest, kings, take heed!
For it rises, armèd men.
When that ghastly crop is born;
When the truth they then shall know
Of the warnings now they scorn.
How in that great judgment-day,
Lord! thy justice shall be known!
When the chainless earth shall say,
“Kings, you reap but as you've sown!”
Despots, despots, sow your seed!
Dragon's teeth you sow; what then?
Of your harvest, kings, take heed!
For it rises, armèd men.
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