Become thou but grain; thou’lt be pecked up by birds. A flower make thyself; all the children go thirds. 290 Thy grain hidest thou? Thou’rt naught else but brick-trap. Thy flower shuttest up? Thou’rt a weed on house-top. His beauty whoever may offer for sale, Invites many troubles his heart to assail. Hopes, fears, wraths, and jealousies strike him at once; As rain on his head pours in winter;--the nonce. All sorts of opponents, by jealousy moved; With them, even friends joy to see him so proved. Whoever may put off to sow seed in spring, Ignores the true value of time’s swiftest wing. 295 Let each one take refuge in mercy of God, Who grace manifold on our souls has bestowed. Then shalt thou find shelter, when shelter thou needest. Fire’s, water’s protection thou’lt have, as thou heedest. It was not the sea alone Noah, Moses, saved. Nor sea alone was it, their foes that ingraved. It was not the fire that stood Abr’am in stead, Till God conquered Nimrod by gnat in his head. It was not the mountain that called John to it, 300 And drove back pursuers with huge rocks that hit. It cried: “Hither, John; refuge come take with me. Thy life I will save from foe’s sharp sword. Come; see.” “Adieu, master dear; I’m now off to my home. May’st thou, too, be free, when the judgment shall come. Good-bye, my kind master; compassion thou’st shown. From tyranny’s chains, now, through thee, have I flown.” He gave to our merchant some words of advice. Then flew away, shouting: “Good-bye! Very nice!” The merchant a “Safe journey” augured to him. Then thought: “Useful lesson I’ve learned, and trim. 305 His doings may serve as a pattern for me. I’ll imitate him. Better teacher can’t be. My soul is not, sure, inferior to his. See how souls should act, to gain heavenly bliss.” The body’s a cage and a thorn to the soul. Hence, seldom are body and soul wholly whole. The body says: “I’ll follow where thou mayest lead.” The soul answers: “Nay! Thy desire’s all I heed.” The body then argues: “There’s none like to thee, Thou’rt perfect, kind, beautiful, good as needs be.” 310 The soul now demurs: “This and next worlds are thine. All hearts to the feast hasten, where thou’rt to shine.” The body then says: “’Tis a time for delight.” And soul responds quick: “Season, sure, to bedight.”