Star to name or sky-sign read,—yet pouch, for pains, a curse?
—Curse: for when a vagrant,—foot-sore, travel-tattered,
Now a young man, now an old man, Turk or Arab, Jew or Gypsy,—
Proffered folk in passing—Oh, for pay, what mattered?—
"I 'll be doctor, I 'll play builder, star I 'll name—sign read!"
Soon as prince was cured, tower built, and fate predicted,
"Who may you be?" came the question; when he answered "Petrus ipse,"
"Just as we divined!" cried folk—"A wretch convicted
Long ago of dealing with the devil—-you indeed!"
So, they cursed him roundly, all his labor's payment,