Page:The Century Of Life.pdf/58

 THE WORDS OF THE WISE

Serve thou the wise and good, covet their specch Although to trivial daily things it keeps. Their casual thoughts are foam from solemn deeps; Their passing words make Scripture, Science; rich, Though sceming poor, their comnion actions teach.

NOBLESSE OBLIGE

If some day by some chance God thought this good And lilics were abolished from the earth, Would yet the swan like fowls of baser birth

Scatter a stinking dunghill for his food?

THE ROOTS OF ENJOYMENT

That at thy door proud-necked the high-foaming siccds Prance spirited and stamp in pride the ground And the huge elephants stand, their temple’s bound Broken with rut, like skumbrous mountains round,—

That in harmonious concert fluted reeds, The harp’s sweet moan, the tabour and the drum And conch-shell in their married moments come Waking at dawn in thy imperial domc,—

Thy pride, thy riches, thy full-sated needs, That like a king of gods thou dwell’st on carth,— Erom duties high-fulfilled these joys had birth; All pleasant things washes to men of worth

The accumulated surge of righteous deeds.