The Saint's Tragedy by Charles Kingsley
page 34 of 249 (13%)
page 34 of 249 (13%)
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Lewis. Copy? wherein?
Wal. In letting every man Do what he likes, and only seeing he does it As you do your work--well. That's the Church secret For breeding towns, as fast as you breed roe-deer; Example, but not meddling. See that hollow-- I knew it once all heath, and deep peat-bog-- I drowned a black mare in that self-same spot Hunting with your good father: Well, he gave One jovial night, to six poor Erfurt monks-- Six picked-visaged, wan, bird-fingered wights-- All in their rough hair shirts, like hedgehogs starved-- I told them, six weeks' work would break their hearts: They answered, Christ would help, and Christ's great mother, And make them strong when weakest: So they settled: And starved and froze. Lewis. And dug and built, it seems. Wal. Faith, that's true. See--as garden walls draw snails, They have drawn a hamlet round; the slopes are blue, Knee-deep with flax, the orchard boughs are breaking With strange outlandish fruits. See those young rogues Marching to school; no poachers here, Lord Landgrave,-- Too much to be done at home; there's not a village Of yours, now, thrives like this. By God's good help These men have made their ownership worth something. Here comes one of them. |
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