"She has no heart," they said, and turned away, Then, stung so that I wished my words might be Two-edged swords, I answered low: -- "Have ye Not read how once when famine held fierce sway In Lydia, and men died day by day Of hunger, there were found brave souls whose glee Scarce hid their pangs, who said, 'Now we Can eat but once in two days; we will play Such games on those days when we eat no food That we forget our pain.' "Thus they withstood Long years of famine; and to them we owe The trumpets, pipes, and balls which mirth finds good To-day, and little dreams that of such woe They first were born. "That woman's life I know Has been all famine. Mock now if ye dare, To hear her brave sad laughter in the air." |