 | Passion-Flowers |  |
172
THE MASTER.
Sometimes, in the brilliant strife
Of the wise and witty,
One who pleads not for himself
Breathes divinest pity.
Of the wise and witty,
One who pleads not for himself
Breathes divinest pity.
Sometimes, where fierce speakers hurl
Loud denunciation,
One clear whisper calms men's hearts
To appreciation.
Loud denunciation,
One clear whisper calms men's hearts
To appreciation.
Where the high-tuned viols meet
In most rapturous swelling,
Passes one who holds the thought
Mystic strains were telling.
In most rapturous swelling,
Passes one who holds the thought
Mystic strains were telling.
173
'Mid the busy haunts of men,
'Mid their festal dances,
Where the eye betrays no heart
Deeper than its glances,
'Mid their festal dances,
Where the eye betrays no heart
Deeper than its glances,
I have seen a broader brow,
More serene and higher,
Eyes wherein an after-thought
Chastens native fire.
More serene and higher,
Eyes wherein an after-thought
Chastens native fire.
I, who bow not to the priest
Lean, or fed to sleekness,
Bend to one who holds of Christ
Wisdom, love, and meekness.
Lean, or fed to sleekness,
Bend to one who holds of Christ
Wisdom, love, and meekness.
When his intercession mild
Hushed the critic's pæan,
He had caught a gentle tone
From the Galilæan.
Hushed the critic's pæan,
He had caught a gentle tone
From the Galilæan.
When his words of higher faith
Shamed the Calvinistian,
He, were he baptized or not,
Answered like a Christian.
Shamed the Calvinistian,
He, were he baptized or not,
Answered like a Christian.
174
When his eye detected me
In the world's vain glitter,
And his look said: ‘Here is one
Whose garments do not fit her;
In the world's vain glitter,
And his look said: ‘Here is one
Whose garments do not fit her;
‘She who stakes an hour on cards
Risks a holier treasure;
She who scatters shining words
Gathers pain for pleasure;’
Risks a holier treasure;
She who scatters shining words
Gathers pain for pleasure;’
Then my world-enfrozen heart
Faster beat, and faster;
As I looked upon the Man,
I beheld the Master.
Faster beat, and faster;
As I looked upon the Man,
I beheld the Master.
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