Let those who will hang rapturously o'er Repeat, with flashing eyes, the sounds that pour Let those who list ask Sully to assuage Wild hearts with high-wrought periods, and restore The reign of rhetoric; or maxims sage Winnow from Seneca's sententious lore. Not these, but Judah's hallowed bards, to me The temperate grief of Job; the artless strain SIR AUBREY DE VERE I THE MAKING OF MAN When the Lord would fashion men, "Lo! Our will is there shall be Spake the Angels, "Wilt Thou make Of Thy precepts the forsaker? But Thou knowest all, and we Celebrate Thy majesty." Answered Allah, "Yea, I know What ye know not of this making; Gabriel! Michael! Israfil! Go down to the earth, and, taking Seven clods of colors seven, Bring them unto Me in Heaven.” Then those holy Angels three Spread their pinions and descended; Seeking clods of diverse clay, That all colors might be blended; Yellow, tawny, dun, black, brown, White and red, as men are known. But the Earth spake, sore afraid, That the dread Creator make not Therefore, empty-handed came Saying, “Lord! Thy Earth imploreth Spake the Lord to Azrael, Go thou, who of wing art surest. Tell my Earth this shall be well; Bring those clods which thou procurest From her bosom, unto Me; Shape them as I order thee." Thus 'tis written how the Lord All save Iblis; and this story 66 Come thou!" at the hour of death. SIR EDWIN ARNOLD 2 MERCY'S REPLY AN ARABIAN ALLEGORY The earth was made, yet still, though full of light That rolled away the anarch of old Night, And spoke as God can speak alone, "Shall We make man?" Then stern-eyed Justice cried, "Oh, make him not, for he, in his vain pride, Then Truth, "Yes, make him not! his impious foot Gazed up and cried, amid her sterner peers, He said (while Mercy, rising, blessed and smiled), "Now, ruler of thy planet, go, And with thy brother gently deal below!" ANONYMOUS 3 THE FIRST SUNSET SEEN BY ADAM Thus Adam cried when first he saw The setting of the sun: "Ah me! perhaps 'tis through my sin, That grievous sin I've done The world grows dark and now returns This is the death decreed by Heaven Throughout that night he sat and prayed, As sat and prayed his bride; Eve weeping at his side. But when at dawn he saw again. The precious light of day, With grateful heart he then exclaimed, THE TALMUD Translation by Rabbi Isidore Myers 4 THE LEGEND OF THE DEAD LAMBS Death, though already in the world, as yet |