The Pearl quotes

Pearl that the Prince full well might prize, So surely set in shining gold!

No pearl of Orient with her vies; To prove her peerless I make bold: So round, so radiant to mine eyes, smooth she seemed, so small to hold, Among all jewels judges wise Would count her best an hundred fold. Alas!

So round, so radiant to mine eyes, smooth she seemed, so small to hold, Among all jewels judges wise Would count her best an hundred fold. Alas! I lost my pearl of old! I pine with heart-pain unforgot; Down through my arbour grass it rolled,

My own pearl, precious, without spot.

Since in that spot it slipped from me I wait, and wish, and oft complain; Once it would bid my sorrow flee, And my fair fortune turn again; It wounds my heart now ceaselessly, And burns my breast with bitter pain.

Needs must that spot with spices spread, Where such wealth falleth to decay; Fair flowers, golden and blue and red, Shine in the sunlight day by day; Nor flower nor fruit have witherèd On turf wherein such treasure lay;

The blade grows where the grain lies dead, Else were no ripe wheat stored away;

Of good come good things, so we say, Then surely such seed faileth not, But spices spring in sweet array From my pearl, precious, without spot.

More than I liked did my fear rise. Stock still I stood and dared not call; With lips close shut and watchful eyes,

I stood as quiet as hawk in hall.

I thought her a spirit from the skies; I doubted what thing might befall; If to escape me now she tries, How shall my voice her flight forestall?

“But, Jeweler, if thou dost lose Thy joy for a gem once dear to thee, Methinks thou dost thy mind abuse, Bewildered by a fantasy;

Thou hast lost nothing save a rose That flowered and failed by life’s decree:

Because the coffer did round it close, A precious pearl it came to be. A thief thou hast dubbed thy destiny That something for nothing gives thee, sir; Thou blamest thy sorrow’s remedy, Thou art no grateful jeweler.”

“Jeweler,” said that Gem so dear, “Why jest ye men, so mad ye be? Three sayings thou hast spoken clear, And unconsidered were all three; Their meaning thou canst not come near,

Thy word before thy thought doth flee.

First, thou believest me truly here, Because with eyes thou mayst me see; Second, with me in this country Thou wilt dwell, whatever may deter; Third, that to cross here thou art free: That may no joyful jeweler.”

“No doom save pain and soul’s distress?” She answered: “Wherefore thinkst thou so? For pain of parting with the less, Man often lets the greater go. ‘T were better thou thy fate shouldst bless, And love thy God, through weal and woe;

For anger wins not happiness; Who must, shall bear; bend thy pride low;

For though thou mayst dance to and fro, Struggle and shriek, and fret and fume, When thou canst stir not, swift nor slow, At last, thou must endure His doom.”

“No doom save pain and soul’s distress?” She answered: “Wherefore thinkst thou so?

For pain of parting with the less, Man often lets the greater go.

‘T were better thou thy fate shouldst bless, And love thy God, through weal and woe; For anger wins not happiness; Who must, shall bear; bend thy pride low;

“

With Him there is no soon nor late,

” Replied to me that worthy wight; “True always is His high mandate; He doth no evil, day nor night.

The last shall be the first of you; And the first last, however swift, For many are called, but chosen, few.’ And thus poor men may have their due, That late and little burden bore; Their work may vanish like the dew,

The mercy of God is much the more.

”

No niggard churl our High Chieftain, But lavishly His gifts are made, Like streams from a moat that flow amain, Or rushing waves that rise unstayed. Free were his pardon whoever prayed Him who to save man’s soul did vow, Unstinted his bliss, and undelayed,

For the grace of God is great enow.

”

Thou say’st that I am come too late, Of so large hire to be worthy here; Yet sawest thou ever small or great, Living in prayer and holy fear, Who did not forfeit at some date The meed of heaven to merit clear?

Nay much the rather, year by year, All bend from right and to evil bow;

Mercy and grace their way must steer, For the grace of God is great enow.”

And souls that free of sin remain The Lamb receiveth with delight; And, though each day a group we gain, There comes no strife for room nor right, Nor rivalry our bliss to blight.

The more the merrier, I profess.

In company our love grows bright, In honour more and never less.

“Nevertheless, speak out I must, My Pearl, though queries rude I pose. To try thy fair wit were unjust Whom Christ to His own chamber chose.

Behold, I am but dung and dust, And thou a rare and radiant rose,

Abiding here in life, and lust Of loveliness that ever grows. A hind that no least cunning knows, I needs must my one doubt express; Though boisterous as the wind that blows, Let my prayer move thee none the less.”

On each a name was written high Of Israel’s sons after their dates, The oldest first, as the story states. Within those streets by night or noon, Light beams that not one hour abates;

They needed neither sun nor moon.

Of sun or moon they had no need; For God Himself was their lamp light, The Lamb their lantern was indeed; From Him the city shone all bright. Through wall and dwelling my looks might speed, Such clearness could not hinder sight.

Beneath the moon full well might fail The heart of mortal to endure The marvel that did mine eyes assail, Fashioned the fancy to allure.

I stood as still as a startled quail,

For wonder of its fair figure, I felt no rest and no travail, Ravished before such radiance pure.