Classic Poem

PARABLE XVI.

The Traveller and the Talents

The heav'nly kingdom's like the case
Of one that sought a foreign place,
And call'd his servants to receive
Such goods as was his mind to leave.
Five talents he on this conferr'd,
And that had two, and one a third:
Each man, according to his skill;
Then went his purpose to fulfill.
?Now he, to whom were five convey'd,
Employ'd the same in useful trade,
Until to other five they grew.
Likewise the next increas'd the two,
With which at first he had begun:
But he, whose talent was but one,
Went forth and dug into the dust,
And there deposited his trust
?Their lord, a tedious season past,
Came home, and reckon'd at the last:
Then he to whom the most was giv'n,
Said, Lord, behold thy five have thriv'n
Till there are other five beside—
‘Thou good and faithful man, he cry'd,
‘Thou that a little hast inhanc'd,
‘To a great charge shall be advanc'd,
‘And thy superiour gifts employ:
‘Receive thy lord's exceeding joy.’
He likewise that receiv'd the twain,
Cry'd, Lord, behold thy gold again,
Also with other two I come,
As int'rest for th'intrusted sum.
‘Thou good and faithful man, he cry'd,
‘Who hast thyself so well apply'd,
‘More talents shall such gifts employ:
‘Receive thy lord's exceeding joy.’—
Then said the man to whom there fell
One talent, Lord, I knew thee well
A rig'rous man, that claims his own
Where he has neither straw'd nor sown;
And I was fearful to be chid,
So in the earth thy talent hid;
Behold, that talent I restore,
Here take it, neither less nor more.
His lord reply'd, ‘Thou slothful slave,
‘If I deserve the word you gave,
‘A rig'rous man, that claim my own
‘Where I had neither straw'd nor sown,
‘Thou, therefore, should'st have set about
‘To put thy master's money out,
‘That he might have been repossess'd
‘With capital and interest
‘Take then the talent from the worst,
‘And give to him that was the first
‘For he that by improvement gains,
‘Shall have abundance for his pains:
‘But he, that wretch, that could not use
‘His little, shall that little lose
‘So take the worthless slave away,
‘And into outer gloom convey,
‘Where midst the refuse of mankind
‘Fiends bellow, and their teeth they grind.’
For when the Son the second time
Shall come in majesty sublime,
By Cherubs and by Seraphs own'd,
And in his glory sit enthron'd,
Before his face and awful state
Shall all the nations congregate,
And he shall sever them in two,
Ev'n as the sheep the shepherds do,
And from the filthy goats divide,
The sheep shall on his right abide,
The goats shall to the left depart.—
Then shall the King declare his heart,
And thus them on the right address,
‘Ye, whom my Father loves to bless,
‘Come, take the substance that endures,
‘And crown, from the beginning yours.
‘For hungry, and without a crumb,
‘To me ye did with nurture come;
‘Athirst, and ye my drought reliev'd;
‘A stranger, and ye me receiv'd;
‘Upon my shiv'ring limbs and bare
‘Ye threw the garment that I wear;
‘When I was sick, you visits paid;
‘And when a pris'ner, came to aid.’
Then shall the righteous race rejoin,
Lord, when with hunger didst thou pine,
And we the least assistance show'd?
Or to thy thirst a drop bestow'd?
Or took thee trav'ling in distress?
Or cloth'd at all thy nakedness?
When wert thou sick, or in a jail,
And we too there thy hap to wail?
Then shall the Lord this answer make,
‘Since to my brethren, for my sake,
‘Ev'n to the least, you've done these things,
‘You've done them to the King of kings.’
?Then shall he turn him to the left,
‘Away from me, of grace bereft,
‘Depart ye to eternal hell,
‘Where satan and his legions dwell.
‘For hungry, and without a crumb,
‘To me with food ye did not come;
‘Athirst, ye did not me relieve,
‘Nor when a stranger, would receive;
‘Upon my shiv'ring limbs, and bare,
‘Ye brought no cloaths for me to wear;
‘When I was sick, no visits paid,
‘Nor when a pris'ner, came to aid.’
They too shall answer like the first—
When wert thou hungry, or athirst,
A stranger, naked, sick, confin'd,
And we were not to help inclin'd?
Then shall he tell them, ‘Be ye sure,
‘If ev'n the least of all my poor
‘Was not with needful things supply'd,
‘Your Saviour also was deny'd.’—
?Then to their bliss the good shall go,
The bad to everlasting woe.