Page:Poems that every child should know (ed. Burt, 1904).djvu/323

Rh Tell fortune of her blindnesse;

Tell nature of decay;

Tell friendship of unkindnesse;

Tell justice of delay;

And if they dare reply,

Then give them all the lye.

Tell arts they have no soundnesse,

But vary by esteeming;

Tell schooles they want profoundnesse,

And stand too much on seeming;

If arts and schooles reply,

Give arts and schooles the lye.

So, when thou hast, as I

Commanded thee, done blabbing—

Although to give the lye

Deserves no less than stabbing—

Yet stab at thee who will,

No stab the soule can kill.

.

L'Envoi.

Earth's last picture is painted, and the tubes are twisted and dried,

When the oldest colours have faded, and the youngest critic has died,

We shall rest, and, faith, we shall need it—lie down for an æon or two,

Till the Master of All Good Workmen shall set us to work anew!