Classic Poem

PARABLE XXVI

The Rich Man and Lazarus.

A certain man of wealth possess'd,
In purple and fine linnen dress'd,
Did proudly pass each live long day
In sumptuous banquetings away;
At whose uncharitable doors
A certain beggar, full of sores,
Was station'd, Lazarus by name,
And all the wretched suppliant's aim
Was, of the crumbs but to be fed
Of the great lord's superfluous bread:
But he the beggar's pray'r deny'd;
'Till, nearer with their God ally'd
In charity, the very hounds
Came up and lick'd the poor man's wounds.
He, therefore, died for lack of aid,
And by the angels was convey'd
To Abraham's bosom for his peace
The greedy Epicure's decease
In a short season too occurr'd,
And he was pompously interr'd:
Then lifting up his baleful eyes,
Tormented with hell's agonies,
He did poor Lazarus survey
In Abraham's bosom, where he lay,
And, ‘Father Abraham, he said,
‘Have mercy on me, thus dismay'd,
‘And send back Lazarus to dip
‘In the cool stream his finger's tip,
‘That he may so relieve my tongue,
‘Which in tormenting flames is stung.’
Then Abraham said, Remember, son,
What in your mortal state was done:
How thou the goods of life hadst got,
And Lazarus an evil lot:
Whence heav'nly comforts bless the poor,
Whilst thou must agonies endure.
Add to the certainty of this,
Betwixt the seats of pain and bliss
There is a gulph they may not shoot,
Nor I from hence my sons depute,
Nor can they come with us to class,
Who would from your allotment pass.
‘I therefore (he renew'd his pray'r)
‘Beseech thee, that he may repair
‘Unto my father's house, where five
‘Of my own brethren still survive,
‘And testify unto them all,
‘Lest they to this perdition fall.’
There's Moses (Abraham in return)
And Prophets, let them read and learn.
‘Nay, father Abraham, (he said)
‘If one went to them from the dead,
‘They will repent themselves and fear’
He answer'd, If they will not hear
What Moses and the Seers maintain,
The dead themselves would rise in vain.
?All Prophets, since the world began,
Foretold our Saviour God and Man.
And when the Jews would not collate
The scriptures with our Lord's estate,
But all the miracles atchiev'd
By doubt stupendous disbeliev'd;
They were not likely to repent
By things however evident.
Our Saviour, therefore, did not shew
Himself, when ris'n, but to a few,
Which for that purpose he had chose,
All evidence to crown and close.