_IN THE GREAT METROPOLIS._ Each for himself is still the rule; We learn it when we go to school— The devil take the hindmost, O! And when the schoolboys grow to men, In life they learn it o’er again— The devil take the hindmost, O! For in the church, and at the bar, On ’Change, at court, where’er they are, The devil takes the hindmost, O! Husband for husband, wife for wife, Are careful that in married life The devil takes the hindmost, O! From youth to age, whate’er the game, The unvarying practice is the same— The devil takes the hindmost, O! And after death, we do not know, But scarce can doubt, where’er we go, The devil takes the hindmost, O! Ti rol de rol, ti rol de ro, The devil take the hindmost, O! _THE LATEST DECALOGUE._ Thou shalt have one God only; who Would be at the expense of two? No graven images may be Worshipped, except the currency: Swear not at all; for, for thy curse Thine enemy is none the worse: At church on Sunday to attend Will serve to keep the world thy friend: Honour thy parents; that is, all From whom advancement may befall; Thou shalt not kill; but need’st not strive Officiously to keep alive: Do not adultery commit; Advantage rarely comes of it: Thou shalt not steal; an empty feat, When it’s so lucrative to cheat: Bear not false witness; let the lie Have time on its own wings to fly: Thou shalt not covet, but tradition Approves all forms of competition. _THE QUESTIONING SPIRIT._ The human spirits saw I on a day, Sitting and looking each a different way; And hardly tasking, subtly questioning, Another spirit went around the ring To each and each: and as he ceased his say, Each after each, I heard them singly sing, Some querulously high, some softly, sadly low, We know not—what avails to know? We know not—wherefore need we know? This answer gave they still unto his suing, We know not, let us do as we are doing. Dost thou not know that these things only seem?— I know not, let me dream my dream. Are dust and ashes fit to make a treasure?— I know not, let me take my pleasure. What shall avail the knowledge thou hast sought?— I know not, let me think my thought. What is the end of strife?— I know not, let me live my life. How many days or e’er thou mean’st to move?— I know not, let me love my love. Were not things old once new?— I know not, let me do as others do. And when the rest were over past, I know not, I will do my duty, said the last. Thy duty do? rejoined the voice, Ah, do it, do it, and rejoice; But shalt thou then, when all is done, Enjoy a love, embrace a beauty Like these, that may be seen and won In life, whose course will then be run; Or wilt thou be where there is none? I know not, I will do my duty.