L

You say you are holy, And that Because I have not seen you sin.

Aye, but there are those Who see you sin, my friend.

LI

A man went before a strange G.o.d,-- The G.o.d of many men, sadly wise.

And the deity thundered loudly, Fat with rage, and puffing, "Kneel, mortal, and cringe "And grovel and do homage "To my particularly sublime majesty."

The man fled.

Then the man went to another G.o.d,-- The G.o.d of his inner thoughts.

And this one looked at him With soft eyes Lit with infinite comprehension, And said, "My poor child!"

LII

Why do you strive for greatness, fool?

Go pluck a bough and wear it.

It is as sufficing.

My lord, there are certain barbarians Who tilt their noses As if the stars were flowers, And thy servant is lost among their shoe-buckles.

Fain would I have mine eyes even with their eyes.

Fool, go pluck a bough and wear it.

LIII

I

Bl.u.s.tering G.o.d, Stamping across the sky With loud swagger, I fear you not.

No, though from your highest heaven You plunge your spear at my heart, I fear you not.

No, not if the blow Is as the lightning blasting a tree, I fear you not, puffing braggart.

II

If thou can see into my heart That I fear thee not, Thou wilt see why I fear thee not, And why it is right.

So threaten not, thou, with thy b.l.o.o.d.y spears, Else thy sublime ears shall hear curses.

III

Withal, there is one whom I fear; I fear to see grief upon that face.

Perchance, Friend, he is not your G.o.d; If so, spit upon him.

By it you will do no profanity.

But I-- Ah, sooner would I die Than see tears in those eyes of my soul.

LIV

"It was wrong to do this," said the angel.

"You should live like a flower, "Holding malice like a puppy, "Waging war like a lambkin."

"Not so," quoth the man Who had no fear of spirits; "It is only wrong for angels "Who can live like the flowers, "Holding malice like the puppies, "Waging war like the lambkins."

LV

A man toiled on a burning road, Never resting.

Once he saw a fat, stupid a.s.s Grinning at him from a green place.

The man cried out in rage, "Ah! Do not deride me, fool!

"I know you-- "All day stuffing your belly, "Burying your heart "In gra.s.s and tender sprouts: "It will not suffice you."

But the a.s.s only grinned at him from the green place.

LVI

A man feared that he might find an a.s.sa.s.sin; Another that he might find a victim.

One was more wise than the other.

LVII

With eye and with gesture You say you are holy.

I say you lie; For I did see you Draw away your coats From the sin upon the hands Of a little child.

Liar!

LVIII

The sage lectured brilliantly.

Before him, two images: "Now this one is a devil, "And this one is me."

He turned away.

Then a cunning pupil Changed the positions.

Turned the sage again: "Now this one is a devil, "And this one is me."

The pupils sat, all grinning, And rejoiced in the game.

But the sage was a sage.