MEASURE FOR MEASURE
Richard Butler Glaenzer
And one answered: Lord,
Of a truth, brave Lord,
I am all the follies and yet
I have sinned not blindly,
But bravely, as a man; so let
My punishment be brave,
Albeit courage win not Heaven.
What hast thou done, brave man?
All things that man can do, brave Lord.
Whatsoever Hell thou choose,
That Hell is thine.
And one answered: Lord,
Of a truth, kind Lord,
I am weak but humble, and yet
I have erred not often,
And kindly have I been; so let
Thy judgment be as kind,
Howbeit meekness gain not Heaven.
What hast thou done, kind man?
All things that man would do, kind Lord.
Whatsoever Heaven thou choose,
That Heaven is thine.
And one answered: Lord,
Of a truth, O Lord,
Who am I to answer?… And yet …
I have lived, Life-Giver,
And O, how sweet was life! so let
Its sweetness cling and lo,
I shall but live again … in Heaven.
What hast thou done, O man?
Thou only knowest true, O Lord.
Whatsoever Heaven thou choose,
That Heaven is Mine.