Religion

Rascality

by Heinrich Heine 1797–1856

Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring (1908) · From Romancero: Book II. Lamentations: Lazarus

Religion

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.

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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