The favored child was loved indeed
By father, mother, city and state—
All glad to give the highest meed,
The child they’ve blest both soon and late.
Another child did men berate,
And now and then they brought to shame;
They saw and caused a cruel Fate
To damn this child with a felon’s name.
The happy child of Fortune’s breed
For mind and body had fullest plate;
Of noble flesh, an elect seed,
The child they’ve blest both soon and late.
The chanceless child they chose to hate,
To hinder hands that would reclaim—
Ah, even moved some magistrate
To damn this child with a felon’s name.
The well-led boy should take the lead,
Have free and ever a high estate—
’Twas rank injustice to impede
The child they’ve blest both soon and late.
The wayward child could ne’er be great,
And so ’twas meet his mind to flame,
And just his doom to accelerate,
To damn this child with a felon’s name.