HANS SACHS.
Riches of Poverty.
Why art thou cast down, my heart?
Why trouble, why dost mourn apart,
O’er naught but earthly wealth?
Trust in thy God, be not afraid,
He is thy friend, who all things made!
Dost think thy prayers he doth not heed?
He knows full well what thou dost need;
And heaven and earth are his!
My Father and my God, who still
Is with my soul in every ill.
The rich man in his wealth confides;
But in my God my trust abides.
Laugh as ye will, I hold
This one thing fast, that He hath taught:
Who trusts in God shall want for naught.
Yes, Lord: thou art as rich to-day
As thou hast been, and shall be aye:
I rest on thee alone;
Thy riches to my soul be given,
And ’tis enough for earth and heaven.
The legends of Hans Sachs are all pointed with satire. Readers now-a-days find in them a coarseness which jars their ideas of reverence and refinement, but which in the sixteenth century was in perfect keeping with the popular taste. One of the best of his legends is that of “St. Peter and the Goat.” “We are told that once upon a time St. Peter was perplexed by an apparent prevalence of injustice in the world; and ventured to think that he could arrange matters better if he held the reins of government. He frankly confesses these thoughts to his Master. Meanwhile a peasant girl comes to him and complains that she has to do a hard day’s work, and at the same time to keep in order a frolicsome young goat. ‘Now,’ says the Lord to Peter, ‘you must have pity on this girl, and must take charge of the goat. That will serve as an introduction to your managing the affairs of the universe.’”
The legend goes on:
“The young goat had a playful mind
And never liked to be confined;
The Apostle at a killing pace,
Followed the goat, in a desperate chase;
Over the hills and among the briers
The goat runs on and never tires,
While Peter, behind, on the grassy plain,
Runs on, panting and sighing in vain.
All day, beneath a scorching sun,
The good Apostle had to run
Till evening came; the goat was caught
And safely to the Master brought,
Then, with a smile, to Peter said
The Lord: ‘Well, friend, how have you sped?
If such a task your powers has tried
How could you keep the world so wide?’
Then Peter, with his toil distressed,
His folly, with a sigh, confessed;
‘No, Master, ’tis for me no play
To rule one goat for one short day;
It must be infinitely worse
To regulate the universe.’”