92
THE COLLECTED WORKS
On a hero every second.
Best of all that goodly show,
I was but a laddie—O,
So long ago!
A PROPHET OF PEACE
"The world is young, perverse, and bad,
The virtues all are wanting;
The gods are dead and men are mad
And wickedness is haunting
The human heart, an honored guest,
As robbers of the night infest
A wayside inn in Camilhad.
"Hate walks the earth all unafraid.
And neighbor murders neighbor;
Greed draws on Greed the battle-blade,
And Labor strangles Labor.
The widow and the orphan cry
For bread while benefactors ply
Unlashed by law, their dreadful trade.
"King, president, and patriot
Serve their accurst ambition;
The soldier and the sans-culottes,
The priest and politician,