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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE SPILT PEARLS, by RICHARD CHENEVIX TRENCH Poet's Biography First Line: His courtiers of the caliph crave Last Line: Thine own will never be. | |||
HIS courtiers of the Caliph crave -- "Oh, say how this may be, That of thy slaves, this Ethiop slave Is best beloved by thee? "For he is hideous as the night: Yet when has ever chose A nightingale for its delight A hueless, scentless rose?" The Caliph then -- "No features fair Nor comely mien are his: Love is the beauty he doth wear, And love his glory is. "Once when a camel of my train There fell in narrow street, From broken casket rolled amain Rich pearls before my feet. "I nodding to my slaves, that I Would freely give them these, At once upon the spoil they fly, The costly boon to seize. "One only at my side remained -- Beside this Ethiop, none: He, moveless as the steed he reined, Behind me sat alone. "'What will thy gain, good fellow, be, Thus lingering at my side!' -- -- 'My king, that I shall faithfully Have guarded thee,' he cried. "'True servant's title he may wear, He only, who has not, For his lord's gifts, how rich soe'er, His lord himself forgot!'" -- So thou alone dost walk before Thy God with perfect aim, From him desiring nothing more Beside himself to claim. For if thou not to him aspire, But to his gifts alone, Not love, but coveteous desire, Has brought thee to his throne. While such thy prayer, it climbs above In vain -- the golden key Of God's rich treasure-house of love, Thine own will never be. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HARMOSAN by RICHARD CHENEVIX TRENCH ONE SHORT HOUR by RICHARD CHENEVIX TRENCH A LEGEND OF TOLEDO by RICHARD CHENEVIX TRENCH AFTER THE BATTLE by RICHARD CHENEVIX TRENCH ALMA by RICHARD CHENEVIX TRENCH O! WONDROUS DEATH by RICHARD CHENEVIX TRENCH RETIREMENT by RICHARD CHENEVIX TRENCH SADNESS BORN OF BEAUTY by RICHARD CHENEVIX TRENCH THE BANISHED KINGS by RICHARD CHENEVIX TRENCH THE BARMECIDES by RICHARD CHENEVIX TRENCH THE CHRIST by RICHARD CHENEVIX TRENCH THE LENT JEWELS; A JEWISH APOLOGUE by RICHARD CHENEVIX TRENCH |
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