Religion
Rascality
Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring (1908) · From Romancero: Book II. Lamentations: Lazarus
Rich people only can be won
By open, barefaced flattery;
Money is flat, my worthy son,
And needs must flatly flatter’d be.
The box of incense swing with zeal
Before all worshipp’d golden calves:
In dust and mire with meekness kneel,
And, above all, ne’er praise by halves.
The price of bread this year is high,
Fine words we lavish all in vain;
Mecænas’ dog to praise, then, try,
And earn a bellyful again.
Cite this poem
MLA
Heine, Heinrich. “Rascality.” Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/heine/521/.
Chicago
Heine, Heinrich. “Rascality.” Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/heine/521/.
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