Deceit

Blest are the souls who are lifted above
The paltry cares of a selfish love;
And conquering sense and its earthly ties,
Are dust in the path of the love they prize ;
Who add no weight to another’s care,
And no weight of reproach from another bear,
But in this sad world are resigned to their lot,
Support their brethren and murmur not ;
Who sleep with no malice or fraud in their breast,
And rise as pure from their welcome rest.
The foes of Yusuf came glad and gay
As they thought of the counsel of yesterday,
With love on their tongue, in their heart fraud lies,
Like wolves that have taken the lamb’s disguise,
In reverent duty their father to see,
And bowed them down on the bended knee.
They opened the flattering door of deceit,
And the words they uttered were soft and sweet.
They spoke awhile of things old and new,
And near and more near to their object drew :
“ Father, we weary of resting at home ;
Through the plain around us we fain would roam.
If thou wilt grant the permission we pray,
Hence will we wander at break of day.
Our brother Yusuf, the light of thine eyes,
Knows not the region which round us lies.
Wilt thou not send him with us ? Our joy
Will be great to attend on thy darling boy.
He stays in the house through the weary day :
Send him out with us to rove and play.
Through the field and the plain his steps we will guide
Up to the slope and the steep hill’s side.
We will milk the ewes in the grassy field,
And drink with delight the sweet draught they yield.
Through beds of tulips our way will pass,
And our playground will be the carpet of grass.
We will steal the bright crowns of the tulips, and set
Their bloom on his brow for a coronet,
And the boy thus decked we will gently lead
In his graceful gait through the flowery mead.
We will watch the herds of the browsing deer,
And the wolf shall be slain if he venture near.
Perchance the fresh scene will his spirit restore,
And the dulness of home will oppress him no more.
Set a thousand marvels before a child,
Still only by play is his heart beguiled.”
The father heard as their suit they pressed,
But turned away and refused their request.
“Why should he follow you ?” thus he spake ; ...
“ My heart is sad for my darling’s sake.
I fear lest, eager and reckless, ye
The perils about him may fail to see.
I fear lest a wolf from the neighbouring waste
Should sharpen his teeth the boy’s blood to taste ;
Should tear with keen fangs each delicate limb,
And rend my soul as he mangles him.”
Thus was their suit by the father denied :
Again to move him their arts they tried :
“ Think us not, father, such feeble men
That a single wolf can o’ermatch the ten.
We can seize, as we seize a fox, and slay
A lion making of men his prey.”
Thus they insisted. The father heard :
He gave no refusal, he spoke no word.
But his will, at last by their prayers was bent,
And woe brought on his house by his silent consent.