New Zealand Verse/The Sharing of the Earth
CXXXV.
The Sharing of the Earth.
(From Schiller.)
Take hence the world! cried Zeus from his heaven
Unto mankind: take it, yours shall it be.
To you the earth as heritage is given;
But, sharing, dwell in amity.
Unto mankind: take it, yours shall it be.
To you the earth as heritage is given;
But, sharing, dwell in amity.
In haste, whoso had hands, thereon fell slaving
To win his share; so laboured young and old.
The husbandman seized fields of gold corn waving,
The young squire hunted deer in wood and wold.
To win his share; so laboured young and old.
The husbandman seized fields of gold corn waving,
The young squire hunted deer in wood and wold.
The merchant rose, his warehouse goods securing,
The abbot chose his share of last-year wine;
The king stopped roads and bridges, with assuring
Saying: “The tithes and tolls are mine.”
The abbot chose his share of last-year wine;
The king stopped roads and bridges, with assuring
Saying: “The tithes and tolls are mine.”
Too late, when the division all was over
The poet came; he came from lands abroad;
Alas, no vacant place could he discover,
For all things now possessed their lord.
The poet came; he came from lands abroad;
Alas, no vacant place could he discover,
For all things now possessed their lord.
“Alas! am I the only one remaining
Forgotten quite? I, truest son alone?”
Loudly unto the skies went his complaining;
He cast himself before Jove’s throne.
Forgotten quite? I, truest son alone?”
Loudly unto the skies went his complaining;
He cast himself before Jove’s throne.
Since you in lands of dreams and fields Elysian
Roved far, quoth Jove, do not come blaming me.
Where were you loit’ring when they made division?
Then said the poet: “I was here by thee.
Roved far, quoth Jove, do not come blaming me.
Where were you loit’ring when they made division?
Then said the poet: “I was here by thee.
“Mine eyes were fastened on thy face sun-beaming;
Harmonious heaven held enchained mine ear;
Pardon the Spirit so enchanted dreaming,
That he has lost earth’s share while wond’ring here.”
Harmonious heaven held enchained mine ear;
Pardon the Spirit so enchanted dreaming,
That he has lost earth’s share while wond’ring here.”
What’s to be done? said Zeus; the world is given,
The harvest, hunt, the fields, are mine no more.
If you will dwell up here with me in heaven,
Oft as you come you’ll find an open door.
The harvest, hunt, the fields, are mine no more.
If you will dwell up here with me in heaven,
Oft as you come you’ll find an open door.