(Ferishtah, we premise,

Strove this way with a scholar's cavilment

Who put the peevish question: "Sir, be frank!

A good thing or a bad thing—Life is which?

Shine and shade, happiness and misery

Battle it out there: which force beats, I ask?

If I pick beans from out a bushelful—

This one, this other,—then demand of thee

What color names each justly in the main,—

'Black' I expect, and 'White' ensues reply: