But lo! the gift that He gave was—Gold.

And Lucifer wrought with the rugged ore

Till he fashioned it wondrous fair, and then

He set a price on the precious store,

And the price was the blood and tears of men.

Blood and tears! and the price was paid;

Blood was nothing, and tears were free;

And Lucifer smiled at the fools and said:

"Surely your souls should belong to me!"

So he offered the earth with its golden heart,

And the seas with their fleets from pole to pole;

And they looked with lust on the world-wide mart,

And said in their hearts,—"It is worth the soul!"

And kings were they, and they ruled right well;

Gorgeously sped their sovereign day ...

But Lucifer hath their souls in Hell,

And their gold and their empires—where are they?

[23]

[23]

THE EAGLE AND THE FLOWER.

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