the jeweler merits little praise,

who loves but what he sees with eye,

and it were a discourteous phrase

to say our lord would make a lie,

who surely pledged thy soul to raise,

though fate should cause thy flesh to die.

thou dost twist his words in crooked ways

believing only what is nigh;

this is but pride and bigotry,

that a good man may ill assume,

to hold no matter trustworthy

till like a judge he hear and doom.

"whate'er thy doom, dost thou complain

as man should speak to god most high?

thou wouldst gladly dwell in this domain;

't were best, methinks, for leave to apply.

even so, perchance, thou pleadest in vain.

across this water thou wouldst fly,—

to other end thou must attain.

thy corpse to clay comes verily,—

in paradise 't was ruined by

our forefather. now in the womb

of dreary death each man must lie,

ere god on this bank gives his doom."

"doom me not, sweet, to my old fears

and pain again wherein i pine.

my pearl that, long, long lost, appears,

shall i again forego, in fine?

meet it, and miss it through more years?

thou hast hurt me with that threat of thine.

for what serves treasure but for tears,

one must so soon his bliss resign?

i reck not how my days decline,

though far from earth my soul seek room,

parted from that dear pearl of mine.

save endless dole what is man's doom?"

"no doom save pain and soul's distress?"

she answered: "wherefore thinkst thou so?

for pain of parting with the less,

man often lets the greater go.

't were better thou thy fate shouldst bless,

and love thy god, through weal and woe;

for anger wins not happiness;

who must, shall bear; bend thy pride low;

for though thou mayst dance to and fro,

struggle and shriek, and fret and fume,

when thou canst stir not, swift nor slow,

at last, thou must endure his doom."

"let god doom as he doth ordain;

he will not turn one foot aside;

thy good deeds mount up but in vain,

thou must in sorrow ever bide;

stint of thy strife, cease to complain,

seek his compassion safe and wide,

thy prayer his pity may obtain,

till mercy all her might have tried.

thy anguish he will heal and hide,

and lightly lift away thy gloom;

for, be thou sore or satisfied,

all is for him to deal and doom."

vii