Page:The cry for justice - an anthology of the literature of social protest. - (IA cryforjusticea00sinc).pdf/561

 Romance

(Contemporary American writer)

The old idea of romance: The country boy goes to the city, marries his employer's daughter, enslaves some hundreds of his fellow humans, gets rich, and leaves a public library to his home town.

The new idea of romance: To undo some of the mischief done by the old idea of romance.

The Soul's Errand

(Written by the English soldier and statesman, 1552-1618, just before his execution)

Go, Soul, the body's guest, Upon a thankless errand; Fear not to touch the best; The truth shall be thy warrant: Go, since I needs must die, And give them all the lie.

Go tell the Court it glows And shines like rotten wood; Go tell the Church it shows What's good, but does no good: If Court and Church reply Give Court and Church the lie.