And  humbly  lay  their  profits  at  his  feet.
Well  pleased,  he  views  them  with  a  kind  regard,
And  smiles  on  each,  and  gives  a  great  reward.
With  conscious  guilt  that  marked  his  sullen  face.
The  third,  approaching  with  an  awkward  grace.
Upbraids  his  master  in  a  wicked  strain.
As  proud,  rapacious,  insolent,  and  vain.
*I  knew  my  master,  long  before  he  went,
A  hard  exacter  of  the  sums  he  lent.
Severe  and  cruel,  that,  from  others'  pains
Bxpected  large  and  disproportioned  gains.
How  could  I  then  propose  myself  to  save.
If  trade  had  robbed  me  of  the  sums  he  gave?
With  these  distracting  thoughts  I  struggling  lay.
But  fixed  at  last,  and  took  the  safest  way.
His  talent  I  intrusted  to  the  ground,
And  there  the  same  may  be  in  specie  found.
I  have  no  interest,  but  present  him  all,
Each  mite,  each  farthing,  of  the  principal.'

"To  him  his  lord,  whose  eyes  with  anger  bum.
In  terms  of  justice  made  this  quick  return:
^Ungrateful  servant!  by  thy  crimes  betrayed,

355


The  Life  of  Christ

The  lord  rejoins,  *Tlie  time  for  tliat  is  o'er;

And  gone  forever,  will  return  no  more;

Your  names  henceforth  must  be  unknown  to  me,

And  utter  darkness  must  your  portion  be.'

Learn  hence  this  moral  —  Watch,  and  be  prepared;

Your  devious  paths  let  circumspection  guard;

For  in  an  hour  no  human  wisdom  knows.
The  trump  of  God  shall  banish  your  repose;

And,  if  abandoned  to  unclean  desire.
The  Judge  will  doom  you  to  eternal  fire."

Pleased  with  the  things  their  gracious  Saviour  said,
Their  speaking  gestures  urged  him  to  proceed.
He  marked  the  latent  strugglings  of  their  breast.
