Tall was my camel and laden high, And small the gate as a needle's eye. The city within was very fair, And I and my camel would enter there. "You must lower your load," the porter cried, "You must throw away that bundle of pride." This I did, but the load was great, Far too wide for the narrow gate. "Now," said the porter, "to make it less, Discard that hamper of selfishness." I obeyed, though with much ado, Yet still nor camel nor I got through. "Ah," said the porter, "your load must hold Some little package of trust-in-gold." The merest handful was all I had, Yet, "Throw it away," the porter bade. Then, lo, a marvel! the camel tall Shrank to the size of the portal small, And all my riches, a vast estate, Easily passed through the narrow gate! |