 | Poems : medley and Palestina |  |
135
The Fall of the Evil.
The evil grow to wealth and might;
Their kindred prosper in their sight;
Their sons inherit long delight.
Their kindred prosper in their sight;
Their sons inherit long delight.
Their tables groan with costly cheer;
Their hearts are fenced away from fear;
God toucheth not their plenteous gear.
Their hearts are fenced away from fear;
God toucheth not their plenteous gear.
They take the timbrel, pipe and lyre;
Their voices rise in gladsome choir;
The children dance before the sire.
Their voices rise in gladsome choir;
The children dance before the sire.
They say to God, “Depart! away!
We hate thy way and flout thy sway.
What profits us to fast and pray?”
We hate thy way and flout thy sway.
What profits us to fast and pray?”
They love the law of carnal sense;
They spend their days in opulence;
Then eftersoon they vanish hence.
They spend their days in opulence;
Then eftersoon they vanish hence.
They cannot keep their faces hale,
Nor bear their wealth beyond the veil,
But fly like chaff before the gale.
Nor bear their wealth beyond the veil,
But fly like chaff before the gale.
In vain ye seek their dwelling place,
The lofty towers, the halls of grace,
The mansions of the princely race.
The lofty towers, the halls of grace,
The mansions of the princely race.
Long since they vanished from the spot;
Their very glory is forgot;
Men answer back, “We know them not.”
Their very glory is forgot;
Men answer back, “We know them not.”
| Poems : medley and Palestina | |