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| IN the old days, while yet the church was young, | |
| And men believed that praise of God was sung | |
| In curbing self as well as singing psalms, | |
| There lived a monk, Macarius by name, | |
| A holy man, to whom the faithful came | 5 |
| With hungry hearts to hear the wondrous Word. | |
| In sight of gushing springs and sheltering palms, | |
| He lived upon the desert; from the marsh | |
| He drank the brackish water, and his food | |
| Was dates and roots,—and all his rule was harsh, | 10 |
| For pampered flesh in those days warred with good. | |
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| From those who came in scores a few there were | |
| Who feared the devil more than fast and prayer, | |
| And these remained and took the hermit’s vow. | |
| A dozen saints there grew to be; and now | 15 |
| Macarius, happy, lived in larger care. | |
| He taught his brethren all the lore he knew, | |
| And as they learned, his pious rigors grew. | |
| His whole intent was on the spirit’s goal: | |
| He taught them silence,—words disturb the soul; | 20 |
| He warned of joys, and bade them pray for sorrow, | |
| And be prepared to-day for death to-morrow; | |
| To know that human life alone was given | |
| To prove the souls of those who merit heaven; | |
| He bade the twelve in all things be as brothers, | 25 |
| And die to self, to live and work for others. | |
| “For so,” he said, “we save our love and labors, | |
| And each one gives his own and takes his neighbor’s.” | |
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| Thus long he taught, and while they silent heard, | |
| He prayed for fruitful soil to hold the word. | 30 |
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| One day, beside the marsh they labored long,— | |
| For worldly work makes sweeter sacred song,— | |
| And when the cruel sun made hot the sand, | |
| And Afric’s gnats the sweltering face and hand | |
| Tormenting stung, a passing traveller stood | 35 |
| And watched the workers by the reeking flood. | |
| Macarius, nigh, with heat and toil was faint; | |
| The traveller saw, and to the suffering saint | |
| A bunch of luscious grapes in pity threw. | |
| Most sweet and fresh and fair they were to view, | 40 |
| A generous cluster, bursting-rich with wine. | |
| Macarius longed to taste. “The fruit is mine,” | |
| He said, and sighed; “but I, who daily teach, | |
| Feel now the bond to practise as I preach.” | |
| He gave the cluster to the nearest one, | 45 |
| And with his heavy toil went patient on. | |
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| As one athirst will greet a flowing brim, | |
| The tempting fruit made moist the mouth of him | |
| Who took the gift; but in the yearning eye | |
| Rose brighter light: to one whose lip was dry | 50 |
| He gave the grapes, and bent him to his spade. | |
| And he who took, unknown to any other, | |
| The sweet refreshment handed to a brother. | |
| And so, from each to each, till round was made | |
| The circuit wholly,—when the grapes at last, | 55 |
| Untouched and tempting, to Macarius passed. | |
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| “Now God be thanked!” he cried, and ceased to toil; | |
| “The seed was good, but better was the soil. | |
| My brothers, join with me to bless the day.” | |
| But, ere they knelt, he threw the grapes away. | 60 |
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