Fugitive Poetry. 1600–1878/The Rabbi's Jewels

The Rabbi's Jewels.

In schools of wisdom all the day was spent;His steps at eve the Rabbi homeward bent,With homeward thoughts which dwelt upon the wifeAnd two fair children who consoled his life. She, meeting at the threshold, led him in,And with these words, preventing, did begin:"Ever rejoicing at your wished return,Yet do I most so now; for since this mornI have been much perplexed and sorely triedUpon one point which you shall now decide.Some years ago, a friend unto my careSome jewels gave, rich precious gems they were;But having given them in my charge, this friendDid afterwards nor come for them, nor send,But left them in my keeping for so long,That now it almost seems to me a wrongThat he should suddenly arrive to-day,To take those jewels which he left, away.What think you? Shall I freely yield them back,And with no murmuring?—so henceforth to lackThose gems myself, which I had learned to seeAlmost as mine for ever, mine in fee.""What question can be here? Your own true heartMust needs advise you of the only part:That may be claimed again which was but lent,And should be yielded with no discontent.Nor surely can we find herein a wrong,That it was left us to enjoy it long.""Good is the word," she answered; "may we nowAnd evermore that it is good allow!"And rising, to an inner chamber led,And there she showed him, stretched upon one bed,Two children pale, and he the jewels knew,Which God had lent him and resumed anew.