“Yea, my children, that so God may teach thee wisdom, and thy gifts abound tenfold. He that hath much, let him save it by bounty: he that hath little, let him increase it with patience: he that hath won, let him divide the victory. Share ye each other’s virtues, that each may possess the gifts of all.”
THE THREE PLEDGES.
Three students sat together
In a villa on the Rhine,
And pledged the beauteous river
In draughts of sparkling wine.
One was bold and haughty,
Count Otto was his name:
His dark eyes flashed and smouldered:
From Nuremberg he came.
And one was too fond-hearted
For aught but love and song;
With hair too brightly golden
To wear its lustre long.
His hands were white and shapely
As any maid’s might be;
Count Adelbert of Munich,
A joyous youth was he.
And one was grave and quiet,
With such a winning smile
That, meeting all its brightness,
Sad hearts grew light the while.
And as they sat together,
Three trav’llers by the Rhine,
And pledged the noble river
In draughts of golden wine,