BEFORE the world had past her time of youth While polity and discipline were weak, The precept eye for eye, and tooth for tooth, Came forth -- a light, though but as of daybreak, Strong as could then be borne. A Master meek Proscribed the spirit fostered by that rule, Patience 'his' law, long-suffering 'his' school, And love the end, which all through peace must seek. But lamentably do they err who strain His mandates, given rash impulse to control And keep vindictive thirstings from the soul, So far that, if consistent in their scheme, They must forbid the State to inflict a pain, Making of social order a mere dream. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: PAULINE BARRETT by EDGAR LEE MASTERS LIKE A BULRUSH by MARIANNE MOORE THE NINETEENTH OF APRIL, 1861 by LUCY LARCOM HOPE AND FEAR by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE ON LYNN TERRACE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH PICTURES OF MOTHER by STELLA PFEIFFER BAISCH PSALM 24. DOMINI EST TERRA by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE |