Page:The cry for justice - an anthology of the literature of social protest. - (IA cryforjusticea00sinc).pdf/519

 The Cave of Mammon

(From "The Faerie Queene")

(Old English poet, 1552-1599)

At last he came unto a gloomy glade Cover'd with boughs and shrubs from heavens light, Whereas he sitting found in secret shade An uncouth, salvage, and uncivile wight, Of griesly hew and fowle ill-favour'd sight; His face with smoke was tand, and eies were bleard, His head and beard with sout were ill bedight, His cole-blacke hands did seem to have ben seard In smythes fire-spitting forge, and nayles like clawes appeard

And round about him lay on every side Great heapes of gold that never could be spent; Of which some were rude owre, not purifide, Of Mulcibers devouring element; Some others were new driven, and distent Into great ingowes and to wedges square; Some in round plates withouten moniment; But most were stampt, and in their metal bare The antique shapes of kings and kesars straung and rare

"What secret place," quoth he, "can safely hold So huge a mass, and hide from heavens eie? Or where hast thou thy wonne, that so much gold  Thou canst preserve from wrong and robbery?" "Come thou," quoth he, "and see." So by and by