Paradox-Monger

Paradox-Monger by Bertram Dobell Extracted from Rosemary and Pansies, 1904

* * * THE PARADOX-MONGER With gay assurance he will undertake    To prove all's right in heaven and on earth,    That no such thing as evil e'er had birth. Or if it had 'twas born for goodness' sake: He'll bring a godless nation back to God,    The devil too he'll rehabilitate,    And either at your choice will vindicate With logic much like Gilbert's and as odd: Questions of fate, necessity, free-will.    He settles easily as A B C;    Of every mystery he holds the key; A nostrum he can find for every ill:    But while he thus deals out his meal of chaff    How welcome were a Rabelaisian laugh!