 | Studies in verse (1865) |  |
Strengthened she woke: the trouble still was there,
But she was stronger now to reason it
And do the best: there would be time to weep
Enough hereafter: something yet remained,
And still one child was worthy of her love.
First would she see the banker: she was bound
To see him, hear him, thank him; at the least
Bear his rich scorn with fortitude, and shew
That if her son has faltered, so not she,
“That one at least is honest of his kin:
The house is honest if the son is lost.
And I will see this kinsman, and endure
His scornful eyes to tell him to his face,
That last of all the poor man loses pride,
Much we have lost, still lords of honest pride;
And honour is not sealed in bags of gold;
That I, too proud to beg for honesty,
Will never beg for wrong, and scorn to screen
A felon, though that felon be my son.”
But she was stronger now to reason it
And do the best: there would be time to weep
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And still one child was worthy of her love.
First would she see the banker: she was bound
To see him, hear him, thank him; at the least
Bear his rich scorn with fortitude, and shew
That if her son has faltered, so not she,
“That one at least is honest of his kin:
The house is honest if the son is lost.
And I will see this kinsman, and endure
His scornful eyes to tell him to his face,
That last of all the poor man loses pride,
Much we have lost, still lords of honest pride;
And honour is not sealed in bags of gold;
That I, too proud to beg for honesty,
Will never beg for wrong, and scorn to screen
A felon, though that felon be my son.”
| Studies in verse (1865) | |