Studies of Sensation and Event Poems: By Ebenezer Jones. Edited, Prefaced and Annotated by Richard Herne Shepherd with Memorial Notices of the Author by Sumner Jones and William James Linton |
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THE MISANTHROPE'S CURE.
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 | Studies of Sensation and Event |  |
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THE MISANTHROPE'S CURE.
One had counted every blow
Which the lofty deal the low,
Till his wretched soul could know
Nought beside.
Which the lofty deal the low,
Till his wretched soul could know
Nought beside.
And to him earth seem'd a plain
Where each strove his good to gain
Through some other's loss or pain;
Evil all.
Where each strove his good to gain
Through some other's loss or pain;
Evil all.
Common fate! such watch will blind
Even a wise and learned mind
To the goodness in mankind
Rooted deep.
Even a wise and learned mind
To the goodness in mankind
Rooted deep.
For—be it well or be it ill—
To each man the universe will,
Like his own experience, still
Ever loom.
To each man the universe will,
Like his own experience, still
Ever loom.
193
He grew sick with wrath and gloom;
And one day, to ask his doom,
In the leech's waiting-room
Waited pale.
And one day, to ask his doom,
In the leech's waiting-room
Waited pale.
But a dame and maid coming in,
He from them his cure did win;
How, it were a heavy sin
Ever to hide.
He from them his cure did win;
How, it were a heavy sin
Ever to hide.
From the city's farthest side,
Through the city five miles wide,
Twice each week the dame here hied,
Lone and old,
Through the city five miles wide,
Twice each week the dame here hied,
Lone and old,
To be present while the maid,
Paying nought, sought the leech's aid;
Lest the maid's fair fame might fade,
Hied she here.
Paying nought, sought the leech's aid;
Lest the maid's fair fame might fade,
Hied she here.
Told this, to the dame he said,
“Five miles walk'd you with this maid?”
Said she, “For her ride I paid;
She is ill.”
“Five miles walk'd you with this maid?”
Said she, “For her ride I paid;
She is ill.”
194
“Then you are kin to her?” said he;
“No, oh no! but those that be
Would not do it, sir,” answer'd she
Softly still.
“No, oh no! but those that be
Would not do it, sir,” answer'd she
Softly still.
Ask'd he, “Could you both not ride?”
“Little, since my husband died,
Have I; she has nothing,” replied
Yet the dame.
“Little, since my husband died,
Have I; she has nothing,” replied
Yet the dame.
Look'd he wondering in her face;
Heavenly shone its human grace;
And to him the world apace
Heavenly shone.
Heavenly shone its human grace;
And to him the world apace
Heavenly shone.
As when in a wood a shower
Lights up every leaf and flower,
Was the universe in this hour
Lit for him.
Lights up every leaf and flower,
Was the universe in this hour
Lit for him.
Oh let none learn good by stealth;
Tombing so earth's real wealth;
Thus regain'd its moral health
This poor soul.
Tombing so earth's real wealth;
Thus regain'd its moral health
This poor soul.
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