Page:Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan.djvu/67

Rh To such as know that all most die,
 * And that at last the time must come,

When eye shall speak no more to eye
 * And Love cry,—Lo, this is my sum.

I know in such a world as this
 * No one can gain his heart's desire,

Or pass the years in perfect bliss;
 * Like gold we must be tried by fire;

And each shall suffer as he acts
 * And thinks,—his own sad burden bear;

No friends can help,—his sins are facts
 * That nothing can annul or square,

And he must bear their consequence.
 * Can I my husband save by rites?

Ah, no,—that were a vain pretence,
 * Justice eternal strict requites.

He for his deeds shall get his due
 * As I for mine: thus here each soul

Is its own friend if it pursue
 * The right, and run straight for the goal;

But its own worst and direst foe
 * If it choose evil, and in tracks

Forbidden, for its pleasure go. Who knows not this, true wisdom lacks,