THE Eternal Justice made me seer, All secret things to penetrate: Since when, through eyes of men I peer And read the page of Wrong and Fate. Pure matters I began to preach Of Righteousness and Love Atoning; The neighbours ran to hear, and each Was eager who'd begin ... the stoning. I scattered ashes on my head, The beggars' road from town I trod: In the wilderness I make my bed, And get my meat, like birds, from God. Keeping the Eternal's covenant, All things of earth obey and love me; Stars to my service ministrant Sparkle with frolic lamps above me. But if with furtive hurrying feet I slip through town amid the noise, I see the smile of self-conceit, And hear the old men tell the boys: "Look! Here was Pride -- be warned and dread it! -- Would none of us to dwell among: This fool would have his neighbours credit That God gave utterance to his tongue. "Look well, you children. There he goes -- Haggard and sour and bad and grim! Look, he's no money, he's no clothes! And how they all think scorn of him!" |