Читать книгу My Commonplace Book онлайн

100 страница из 124

Every man hath his gift, one a cup of wine, another heart’s blood.

Hafiz.

Some poets sing of wine or sensuous enjoyment, but Hafiz pours out his heart’s blood in song. Presumably wine and blood are contrasted because of their similar appearance.

The devil could drive woman out of Paradise; but the devil himself cannot drive the Paradise out of a woman.

G. MacDonald (Robert Falconer).

THE PULLEY

When God at first made man,

Having a glass of blessings standing by,

“Let us,” said He, “pour on him all we can;

Let the world’s riches, which dispersed lie,

Contract into a span.”

So strength first made a way,

Then beauty flowed, then wisdom, honour, pleasure;

When almost all was out, God made a stay,

Perceiving that, alone of all His treasure,

Rest in the bottom lay.

“For if I should,” said He,

“Bestow this jewel also on My creature,

He would adore My gifts instead of Me,

And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature:

So both should losers be.

“Yet let him keep the rest,

But keep them with repining restlessness;