248 



THE RAT 



You, who have listened to a creature's tale, 

 With here a smile and there perchance a sigh, 



Go forth and wander over hill and dale, 

 And tune your ear to Nature's melody. 



For many men are deaf and many blind — 

 No mystery rustles in the grass for them ; 



No joy to these, if haply they may find 

 Some hidden stone in Nature's diadem. 



Oh ! mighty mistress, mystery divine. 



To whom all creatures when they worship pray. 

 Dip thy last shaft in potent anodyne. 



Then gently take thy gift of life away. 



Thy gift has been a joyous gift to me, 

 And I have used it well and used it ill ; 



Nor praise I claim, nor blame, if such there be ; 

 I have done all things at thy sovereign will. 



And, child of man, the days are long, you think; 



So write that you may never have to blot. 

 For, drop by drop. Time steals away the ink, 



And no man comes to fill again the pot. 



You rule the world : it lies between your hands ; 



'Tis yours to keep alive ; 'tis yours to kill ; 

 But at your side a mighty presence stands, 



Who keeps the tale of good deeds and of ill. 



So fare you well ; I may have writ in vain. 



We shall know all things when we creep to bed, 

 Where, at the end of pleasure and of pain, 



The Tree of Silence rears its solemn head. 



BILLING AND SONS, LTD., PRINTERS, GUILDFORD 



