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164 THE PLATE OF GOLD.
42. THE PLATE OF GOLD.
1. On e day t here fell in great Benares' te mpl e-cour t
A wondrous pla te of gold, whereon th ese word s were writ :
"To him who loveth best, a gift from H ea ven."
2. Th ereat
The pri ests mad e procl am ation: " A t th e mid-day hour,
Each day, let th ose assemble who for virtu e deem
Th eir right to heaven's gift the best ; and we will hear
Th e deeds of merc)" done, and so adjud ge."
3. The news
R an swift as light, and soon from e'"ery qu arter came
Nobles and peasants, herm its, scholars, holy n-en,
And all renown ed for grac ious or for splend id deeds.
Meanwhile th e pri ests in solemn council sat, and heard
" ' hat each had done to merit Lest the gift of H eaven.
So for a year the claimants came and wen t.
4. A t last,
After a patient weighing of the worth of all,
The priests bestowed the plate of gold on one who seemed
The largest lover of th e race-whose whole esta te
Within th e year had parted been among the poor.
This man, all trembling with his joy, advanced to take
Th e golden plate-when, 10, at his first finger-touch
It changed to basest lead I All stood aghast ; bu t when
Th e hapl ess claimant dro pped it clan gin g on th e floor,
H ea ven' s guerdon was aga in transformed to shining gold.
5. So for another twelvemonth sat the pr iests and judged ;
Thrice th ey awarded-thrice did H eaven refuse th e gift.
)Iean while a host of poor maim ed beggars in the st reet
Lay all about the temple gate, in hope to move