STRIFE.
Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee.—Genesis, xiii. 8.
Thou shalt hide them in the secret of Thy presence from the pride of man; Thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.—Psalm xxxi. 20.
He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.—Proverbs, xxvi. 17.
Foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.—II. Timothy, ii. 22.
O shame to men! Devil with Devil damned
Firm concord holds, men only disagree
Of creatures rational, though under hope
Of heavenly grace; and God proclaiming peace,
Yet live in hatred, enmity, and strife
Among themselves.
Milton.
O for thy children too confined!
Thy sons in peace thou canst not feed,
Doomed land! to strangers now resigned
Such judgment hath begun on thee.
A foe, by thee unharmed indeed,
Sits at thy board and mocks thy toils,
Divides thy frantic people’s spoils,
And holds thy sword of sovereignty.
Frantic he too! O never! no,
Was nation blessed by blood and wrong;
The conquered feel not all the wo;
Still turns to tears the guilty’s joy:
Though not his haughty way along
Th’ eternal vengeance sweeps and breaks;
It follows, watches still, and wakes,
At his last moment to destroy.
Stamped in one image at our birth,
Made in the likeness all of one;
Ever at every part of earth
Where breath of life we may inherit,
Be brethren all! Our unison
Accursed be he to strife who turns,
Accursed who mocketh him that mourns,
Or saddeneth one immortal spirit!
From the Italian of Manzoni.