When thus the Pitiful One: ‘O suffering man, I taught thee not to die, but how to live; But ye have wrongly read the simple plan, And turn to strife the Heav’nly gift I give. I taught the faith of works, the prayer of deeds, The sacrament of love. I gave, not awe, But praise; no church but God’s; no form, no creeds; No priest but conscience and no lord but law. Behold, my brother, by my side in Heaven Judas abhor’d by men and Nero next. How then, if such as these may be forgiven, Shall one be damn’d who stumbles at a text?’ 1881-2. * * * * * FROTH This bubbling gossip here of fops and fools, Who have no care beyond the coming chance, Rough-rubs the angry soul to arrogance And puts puff’d wisdom out of her own rules. True, knowledge comes on all winds, without schools, And every folly has her saw: perchance Some costly gem from silliest spodomance May be unash’d; and mind has many tools. But still, love here rains not her heav’nly dew, Nor friendship soothes the folly-fretted sense; But pride and ignorance, the empty two, Strut arm-in-arm to air their consequence, And toil bleeds tears of gold for idle opulence. 1881-2. * * * * * LIBERTY When Cassius fell and Brutus died, Resentful Liberty arose, Where from aloft the mountain snows She watch’d the battle’s breaking tide; And as she rent her azure robe Darkness descended o’er the globe. ‘Break never, Night,’ she cried, ‘nor bring Before I come again the morn With all her heav’nly light, for scorn Of this base world so slumbering; Where men for thrice five hundred years Their sin shall mourn, and me, in tears.’ 1882. * * * * * THE THREE ANGELS Heav’n vex’d in heaven heard the World And all the grief thereof, and sent The angel Strength. Swift he unfurl’d His wings and flasht his sword and went: But still the cry of Earth rang to the firmament. Then gentle Love, most loved in heaven, Heav’n sent to Earth. His large eyes shone, Upcast with glory from God given, And darkening downward from the Throne He fell: nor bated yet the far terrestrial moan. Then all the host of heav’n, amazed, Cried, ‘Next let Wisdom go and prove Himself and conquer.’ But he raised His face and answer’d, ‘Heav’n above, Like them, alone I fail; send with me Strength and Love.’ 1882. * * * * * APOLOGUES * * * * * RETURN