Poetry.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2710, 23 November 1889, Page 5 (Supplement)

Poetry.

FIGS! A TALMUDIO LEGEND. The Emperor Adrian, passing thro' th> streets Of this fair city of Tiberius, saw An aged man employed in planting out A Fii? tree, and he, pausing, said to him— " VVhv 'Inst thou plant that tree, old man If thou Llidat labour in thy youth, then surelj hast A store laid by to comfort thine old age ; And surely from the treo thou plantest now Thou canst not hope to live to pluck the fruit." In youth I laboured, and I labour still; In idleness I take no pleasure—yea, While I can work I will work, and tho' God's Good pleasure, I may even live to eat Of this tree's fruit, if such should be His will." "Tell nie thine age?" "'An hundred years I lived." "A hundred years:! and still expect to eat Fruit from this treo?" " If such things should be God's will," Keplied the old man, "and, if not, I'll leave It to my son, as my sire left to me The fruits of his life labour." " If so be Thou livest till the figs thereon are ripe, I pray you let me know," the Emperor Baid, And went his way. The fig tree taking root And flourishing, bore fruit. The old man lived To see it ripen and to eat of it; And well remembering what the Emperor said The day the tree was planted, he resolved To visit him, and straightway gathering His choicest fruit proceeded on his way With a small basketful upon his arm. Accosting at the I'alace gate, the guard, Ho told his errand and admittance gained. Kings were more easily approached in those Old days than now. Then said the Emperor— The incident having faded from his mind— "What is thy wish, and who art thou, old man ? " " I am the old, old man to whom thoti suidst— Seeing him plant a fig-tree—'Let me know If thou survive to eat the fruit of it, And I have coma to bring thee of the figs, That thou mayst eat them likewise." Adrian, Much pleased the basket emptied and desired That it should be refilled for him for gold ; And gladly he departed to his home. But whan the man had left the presence, said His courtiers to the Emporor, " Where fore Didst thoti thus honor that old Jew ?" " The Lord Has honoured him, and wherefore should not I ?" Was the reply and they had nought to say. * * -* * *• In the next dwelling to this good man dwelt A woman who was envious whon she heard Of his good fortune, never resting till Her husband would consent his luck to try In the same quarter. " See ! the Emperor Loves Figs. If thou wilt carry some to him He will thy basket fill with polden coin And worrisd at him till he did her will. And then she filled for him her largest one— Twus large indeed, and held a burden sore To carry far—and putting it upon His shoulder sped him foith. . . . When he had reached The palace gutes he told his errand to The guard, and said, "I pray thee take these Figs In to the Kniperor, and the basket fill With gold instead and bring it back to me." When this he heard, the Emperor, eni'aged, Commanded that straightway the foolish man Within the palace gate should take his stand, And all who entered in or issued forth Should pelt him with the Figs till all were gone. . . . When he returned, crestfallen, to his wife, And, sore and soiled, his lot did loud bewail— " Hcea not, but be consoled ; if they had been Hard cocoa-nuts instead of pulpy Figs, Thou woudst have suffered harder raps," she said. Mrs C. Joblii>g.

THE SINGING REEDS.

'Twtis a piper gaunt and poor, I'iping at the palace door : Sang his pipes so sad and clear That all the nobles turned to hear. " Long ago she loved me dear, She that .slew and laid me here. Low she laid me down to rest With a wide wound in my breast. Lady, will ye never take Pity on the dead that wake ? Take me hence and let me sleep In the graveyard, dark and deep. l[or the ripples, running chill, Keep me waking, waking still — I am waking, waking yetLet me sleep, May Margaret !" Said the old King, bent and gray, " Doleful airs thy pipes do play, Where get ye such plaining reeds ?" " In yon bonny water-meads, Where the swaying, sighing sedge 1 have lost my piping skill, For they play but as they will." And the Prlnce»s in her place Lifted up her lovely face— " 'Tis my lover, false and fair" (Spake she thus) " that lieth there ; Bear him thence and let him sleep In the graveyard dark aud deep. Lay him down, and let there be By his side a place for me."