Poems of James Clarence Mangan (Many hitherto uncollected): Centenary edition: Edited, with preface and notes by D. J. O'Donoghue: Introduction by John Mitchel |
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| THE SOFFEES' DITTY. |
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| II. |
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| IV. |
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| VII. |
 | Poems of James Clarence Mangan |  |
THE SOFFEES' DITTY.
I.
Bismillah! Thou art warned, O Soffee! that mere outward austerities, however excellent in themselves, will not make thee perfect.
Cleansers from sin though they be, will make no one a Soffee.
Much is essential besides the bare absence of sleekness,
Namely: Docility, Poverty, Courage, and Meekness,
Wisdom, and Silence, and Patience, and Prayer without ceasing:—
Such are the tone and the tune of the ditty that we sing.
II.
Bismillah! Beware lest thou live in the habitual commission of any single sin; for, though the sin itself may be slight, the constant repetition of it renders it most grievous.
Far from thy thoughts be such damning delusion, O brother
Pluck thy heart out, and abjure all it loves and possesses
Rather than cherish one sin in its guilty recesses.
Donning new raiment is nobler than patching and piecing:—
Such are the tone and the tune of the ditty that we sing.
III.
Bismillah! And, O Soffee! whensoever the glitter of money meets thine eye, avert thy face! It were better for thee to lodge a serpent in thy bosom than a money-purse.
Whoso loves money has more than the guilt of Ben-Manser.
Wouldst thou, O Soffee! keep clear of the snare that entangles
Those whom at night on their couches the Evil One strangles,
Ask not and task not, abstain from extortion and fleecing—
Such are the tone and the tune of the ditty that we sing.
IV.
Bismillah! There is no strength or wisdom but in God, the High, the Great! Thou, O Soffee, art but a creature of clay; therefore, indulge not in pride!
Swallow much mire in their day, and find everything painful.
Still in its cave shall the diamond beam on, because humble.
When the proud pillar, that stands as a giant, must crumble.
Stoop! and thy burden will keep, like the camel's, decreasing.
Such are the tone and the tune of the ditty that we sing.
V.
Bismillah! The devil, O Soffee! will doubtless try to make thee very miserable. But be thou consoled; for the seven hells are closed hereafter against those who descend into them here.
Grieve not! for so were the Soffees and saints of past eras.
All must abandon Life's lodgings, but none who depart take
Any invalider passport to Hell than the heart-ache.
Satan enslaveth, and Pain is God's mode of releasing—
Such are the tone and the tune of the ditty that we sing.
VI.
Bismillah! It is good for thee to be much afflicted. As Suleymán-Ben-Daood hath said: The heart is made better by the sadness of the countenance.
Like a rich calcedon shrined in some gloomy museum,
Like the bright moon before Midnight is blended with Morrow,
Shines the pure pearl of the soul in the Chalice of Sorrow!
Mourners on earth shall be solaced with pleasures unceasing—
Such are the tone and the tune of the ditty that we sing.
VII.
Bismillah! As Man soweth so doth he reap; his thoughts and deeds come back to him in another world; and as these are good or ill so is he for ever happy or miserable. Ponder this well; and let each fleeting hour impress thee deeplier with the awful truth, that Time is the purchase-money of Eternity.
Evil or Good—which Eternity's Bank reimburses.
Thou, then, O Soffee, look well to each moment expended!
So shall thy hands overflow, and thy guerdon be splendid,
When thy brow faces the wall, and thy pangs are increasing—
These be the tone and the tune of the ditty that we sing.
| Poems of James Clarence Mangan | |