 | Ballads and Other Poems |  |
“Ho, fellow!” saith the midnight watch,
Within the city street;
“Whence comest at this late hour?” they ask
Of one they nightly meet.
Within the city street;
“Whence comest at this late hour?” they ask
Of one they nightly meet.
'Tis he, 'tis he, the younger son,
How changed in mood and frame!
And now he leads a sinful life,
A sinful life of shame.
How changed in mood and frame!
159
A sinful life of shame.
And he hath spent the seven bags,
That were filled up to the brim;
And the three alone of white money
Are only left to him.
That were filled up to the brim;
And the three alone of white money
Are only left to him.
Well, younger son, since so it is,
Thine evil ways amend;
And, where thou spent a thousand pounds,
A penny thou now must spend.
Thine evil ways amend;
And, where thou spent a thousand pounds,
A penny thou now must spend.
Thy years are few, and thou art strong;
Come, yield not to dismay!—
Thou fool!—hast with a madman's hand
Thy last mite thrown away?
Come, yield not to dismay!—
Thou fool!—hast with a madman's hand
Thy last mite thrown away?
Now God have mercy on thy need!
With man is little grace;
For they, with whom thou spent thy gold,
Will mock thee to thy face.
With man is little grace;
For they, with whom thou spent thy gold,
Will mock thee to thy face.
160
He heard the laugh, as he went by;
He saw them turn aside,
As from a creature pestilent;
And in each place, where'er he went,
He met the taunt of pride.
He saw them turn aside,
As from a creature pestilent;
And in each place, where'er he went,
He met the taunt of pride.
They would not give, they would not lend;
They mocked him one and all;
Then passed he through the city gate,
And laid him down, as day grew late,
Without the city wall.
They mocked him one and all;
Then passed he through the city gate,
And laid him down, as day grew late,
Without the city wall.
| Ballads and Other Poems | |