THE Rabbi Judah, so the scribes relate, Sat with his brethren once in a warm debate About those things which each considered best To bring to earth immunity and rest. Then said the one requested to begin: "Rest comes from wealth, if there be peace within." The second said: "It springs from honest fame, And having all men magnify your name." The third said: "Rest is being truly great, Coupled with power to rule some mighty state." The fourth said: "Such a rest as we presage Reach men in only the extremest age, When wealth and power and fame unite to go To children—and unto their children flow." The fifth said: "All these various things are vain; Rest comes to those who all the law maintain." Then said the Rabbi Judah, grave and old, The tallest of the group with him enrolled: "You all speak wisely, but no rest is deep To him who the traditions fails to keep." Now spoke a fairhaired boy up from the grass— A boy of twelve, who heard these words repass, And dropped the lilies from his slender hands; "Nay, father; none among you understands. True rest he only finds who evermore Looks not behind, but to the things before; Who, scorning fame and power and home and pelf, Loveth his brother as he loves himself." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONNET COMPOSED ON A JOURNEY HOMEWARD by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE IMPRESSION by EDMUND WILLIAM GOSSE THE WORLD by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI MY SISTER'S SLEEP by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI RIDE NOT TOO FAST WITH BEAUTY by ELSIE TWINING ABBOTT QUATRAIN: FROM EASTERN SOURCES: 2 by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH EPIGRAM by DECIMUS MAGNUS AUSONIUS |