 | The Vision of Prophecy and Other Poems |  |
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THE ABBOT AND FOOL.
The Fool made mirth in the convent-hall,
While the Abbot and monks were feasting all,—
“Now, sirrah, come hither,” the Abbot cried,
And he took up a staff that lay by his side;
“With this staff in my name you will promise to greet
The veriest fool you may chance to meet.”
The monks applauded with hearty laugh,
And the Fool assented and took the staff.
While the Abbot and monks were feasting all,—
“Now, sirrah, come hither,” the Abbot cried,
And he took up a staff that lay by his side;
“With this staff in my name you will promise to greet
The veriest fool you may chance to meet.”
The monks applauded with hearty laugh,
And the Fool assented and took the staff.
Not long after the Abbot fell sick,
And he lay on his bed breathing short and quick;
All who saw how he gasped for breath
Knew that his sickness would end in death.
For the parting soul many masses were said;
And monks were kneeling about his bed,
And friends stood round with looks of gloom,
When the Fool came softly into the room.
And he lay on his bed breathing short and quick;
All who saw how he gasped for breath
Knew that his sickness would end in death.
For the parting soul many masses were said;
And monks were kneeling about his bed,
And friends stood round with looks of gloom,
When the Fool came softly into the room.
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“Alas!” said the Abbot, with heavy moan,
“That I must leave all, and be quickly gone!”
“And whither, dear master, must thou go,”
Asked the Fool, “from the friends who love thee so?”
“I must go to a country far away,
A summons is come that I must obey.”
“But if thou must go, thou hast treasures rare,—
These thou wilt take, and be happy there!”
“That I must leave all, and be quickly gone!”
“And whither, dear master, must thou go,”
Asked the Fool, “from the friends who love thee so?”
“I must go to a country far away,
A summons is come that I must obey.”
“But if thou must go, thou hast treasures rare,—
These thou wilt take, and be happy there!”
“Alas!” said the Abbot, “though loth of mind,
My jewels and gold I must leave behind.”
“But, then, you have surely out of your store
Sent the choice of all that you loved before?”
“Alas!” said the Abbot, with mortal groan,
“There is nothing prepared, yet I must be gone;
I have made no provision against the way,
And a message is come that brooks no delay!”
My jewels and gold I must leave behind.”
“But, then, you have surely out of your store
Sent the choice of all that you loved before?”
“Alas!” said the Abbot, with mortal groan,
“There is nothing prepared, yet I must be gone;
I have made no provision against the way,
And a message is come that brooks no delay!”
“Nothing! but, sure, you have taken heed
To secure a friend to supply your need?”
“I have none!” he shrieked, “for I wished not to go,
And that makes the journey so fearful now!”
“Here, then, is a staff which may stand thee in stead,”
And he laid it down on the Abbot's bed;
“If what thou hast spoken be true, I greet
The veriest fool I ever did meet!”
To secure a friend to supply your need?”
“I have none!” he shrieked, “for I wished not to go,
And that makes the journey so fearful now!”
“Here, then, is a staff which may stand thee in stead,”
And he laid it down on the Abbot's bed;
“If what thou hast spoken be true, I greet
The veriest fool I ever did meet!”
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