Poems from Eastern Sources: The Steadfast Prince; and Other Poems

by Richard Chenevix Trench

XXVII.

“But when sore laden with thy shameful task,

Of thy long bondage thou shalt weary be,

And when mid basest labours thou shalt ask

For pity, ask it of thyself—not me:

For thou dost in thine own hands hold the key

Of thine own prison—yield to me that place,

Else shalt thou vainly crave the poorest grace.

XXVIII.