Part 16 (1/2)

XIII.

_THE WORLD'S A STAGE._

_Nel teatro del mondo._

The world's a theatre: age after age, Souls masked and m.u.f.fled in their fleshly gear Before the supreme audience appear, As Nature, G.o.d's own Art, appoints the stage.

Each plays the part that is his heritage; From choir to choir they pa.s.s, from sphere to sphere, And deck themselves with joy or sorry cheer, As Fate the comic playwright fills the page.

None do or suffer, be they cursed or blest, Aught otherwise than the great Wisdom wrote To gladden each and all who gave Him mirth,

When we at last to sea or air or earth Yielding these masks that weal or woe denote, In G.o.d shall see who spoke and acted best.

XIV.

_THE HUMAN COMEDY._

_Natura dal Signor._

Nature, by G.o.d directed, formed in s.p.a.ce The universal comedy we see; Wherein each star, each man, each ent.i.ty, Each living creature, hath its part and place:

And when the play is over, it shall be That G.o.d will judge with justice and with grace.-- Aping this art divine, the human race Plans for itself on earth a comedy:

It makes kings, priests, slaves, heroes for the eyes Of vulgar folk; and gives them masks to play Their several parts--not wisely, as we see;

For impious men too oft we canonise, And kill the saints; while spurious lords array Their hosts against the real n.o.bility.

XV.

_THE TRUE KINGS._

_Neron fu Re._

Nero was king by accident in show; But Socrates by nature in good sooth; By right of both Augustus; luck and truth Less perfectly were blent in Scipio.

The spurious prince still seeks to extirpate The seed of natures born imperial-- Like Herod, Caiaphas, Meletus, all Who by bad acts sustain their stolen state.

Slaves whose souls tell them that they are but slaves, Strike those whose native kinghood all can see: Martyrdom is the stamp of royalty.

Dead though they be, these govern from their graves: The tyrants fall, nor can their laws remain; While Paul and Peter rise o'er Rome to reign.

XVI.

_WHAT MAKES A KING._