Classic Poem

It was the cloister Grabow, in the land of Usedom,
For years had God's free goodness to fill its larder come:
They might have been contented!

Along the shore came swimming, to give the monks good cheer,
Who dwelt within the cloister, two fishes every year:
They might have been contented!

Two sturgeons — two great fat ones — and then this law was set,
That one of them should yearly be taken in a net;
They might have been contented!

The other swam away, then, until next year came round,
Then, with a new companion, he punctually was found:
They might have been contented!

So then again, they caught one, and served him in the dish,
And regularly caught they, year in, year out, a fish:
They might have been contented!

One year, the time appointed two such great fishes brought,
The question was a hard one, which of them should be caught:
They might have been contented!

They caught them both together — but every greedy wight
Just spoiled his stomach by it — it served the gluttons right:
They might have been contented!

This was the least of sorrows — hear how the cup ran o'er!
Henceforward, to the cloister no fish came swimming more:
They might have been contented!

So long had God supplied them of his free grace alone,
That, now it is denied them, the fault is all their own:
They might have been contented!