Strange is the game they enter in,—
Rouge et Noir on a field of pain!
And the silver white and the yellow gold
Pile and pile in the victor’s hold,
While the many play in vain!
Said the weak children to the stronger ones,
“See now, howe’er it fall, we lose our share!
And play we well or ill we always lose;
While ye gain always more than ye can use.
Bethink ye—is it fair?”