Poems (Piatt)/Volume 2/Counsel
COUNSEL.[IN THE SOUTH.]
My boy, not of your will nor mine You keep the mountain path and wait,Restless, for evil gold to shine And hold you to your fate.
A stronger Hand than yours gave you The lawless sword. You know not why.That you must live is all too true, And—other men must die.
My boy, be brigand, if you must. But face the traveller in his track;Stand one to one,—and never thrust The dagger in his back.
. . . . My boy, if Christ must be betrayed, And you must the betrayer be,Oh, marked before the worlds were made! What help is there for me?
Ah, tell the prophets in their graves, Who ask of you such blood as this,"I take Him, then, with swords and staves,— I will not with a kiss!"