If all were mine that Jove divine

If all were mine that Jove divine
Or other gods could proffer,
Of pomp or show, or dazzling glow,
I would not take their offer,
If I must thee surrender,
In payment for their splendour.
No! I would seek the gods, and say,
'Tis dearer far on earth to stray,
With heart and soul by anguish riven,
And bow'd by poverty and care,
Than seek at once your promised heaven,
And dwell without my loved-one there.

Should they display unbounded sway
O'er all these kingly regions,
And give to me dominion free
O'er lands and mighty legions;
My heart the gift would treasure,
To rule them all at pleasure,
Not for riches, nor for land,
Not for station, nor command,
Nor for sceptres, crowns, nor power,
Nor for all the world is worth,—
But that I on thee might shower
Every gift from heaven or earth.

I would decree that all should be
Observant to revere thee,
With bended knee, submissively,
Though princes—kings—stood near thee.
Courts should their glories lend thee,
And empresses attend thee,
And queens upon thy steps should wait,
And pay their tribute to thy state
In low and humble duty;
And place thee on a royal seat,
Deck'd, as well becomes thy beauty,
With splendour and adornment meet.

An ivory throne should be thine own,
With ornaments the rarest;
A cloth of red thy floor o'erspread,
To kiss thy footsteps, fairest!
And sweetest flowers be wreathing,
And round thee fondly breathing;
And by thy influence I would prove
How I esteem thy virtues, love!
How thy truth and goodness sway'd me,
More than all my store of gold,
More than thousands that obey'd me,
More than the giant world could hold.

But these I know thou canst forgo,
For pride has never found thee,
And I possess more wealthiness
Than all the courtiers round me.
If riches they inherit,
I have them too—in spirit:
And thou dost know as well as I,
That truer greatness deigns to lie
'Neath a garment worn and tatter'd,
Than e'er adorn'd a narrow mind;
And that treasures oft are scatter'd
For the basest of our kind.