Let whoso reads, consider;
Considering, remember,
And from remembering, do,
And doing, so continue.
Whoso abides in Virtue’s paths,
And ever strives until the end
From sinful bondage to be free,
Ne’er shall possess wherewith to feed
The direful flame, nor weight of sin
To sink him in th’ infernal mire;
Nor will he come to that dread realm
Where Wrong and Retribution meet.
But, woe to that poor, worthless wight
Who lives a bitter, stagnant life,
Who follows after every ill
And knows not either Faith or Love,
(For Faith in deeds alone doth live).
Eternal woe shall be his doom—
More torments he shall then behold
Yea, in the twinkling of an eye
Than any age can e’er conceive.
_The_
_VISIONS OF THE SLEEPING BARD_