Pebbles and Shells (Hawkes collection)/The Noblest Thing of All
THE NOBLEST THING OF ALL
A wondrous thought my idle tongue let fall
One day while musing o'er the lives of men—
Of all the noble deeds that e'er have been
Which truly is the noblest of them all?
Was it some deed of arms by Trojan wall,
Or act of love in some foul prison den,
Or bold invective from a flaming pen,
Or gentle ministry beside the pall?
But in the pause my heart made answer bold,
I knew a life whose days were dark and cold,
Each hour seemed fraught with more than soul could stand
Of bitter grief that turns the heart to stone—
Yet on that face a smile like heaven shone.
This was the noblest thing of all, 'twas grand!
One day while musing o'er the lives of men—
Of all the noble deeds that e'er have been
Which truly is the noblest of them all?
Was it some deed of arms by Trojan wall,
Or act of love in some foul prison den,
Or bold invective from a flaming pen,
Or gentle ministry beside the pall?
But in the pause my heart made answer bold,
I knew a life whose days were dark and cold,
Each hour seemed fraught with more than soul could stand
Of bitter grief that turns the heart to stone—
Yet on that face a smile like heaven shone.
This was the noblest thing of all, 'twas grand!