The Peace of Lazarus
by LEONARD BACON
AT HIS ease in Abraham’s bosom kind Lazarus lay asleep.
When far away the thunders rebellowed from the Deep.
And then did Abraham say:
“Go down, my son, straightway,
And help them make the Peace which they must keep.
When far away the thunders rebellowed from the Deep.
And then did Abraham say:
“Go down, my son, straightway,
And help them make the Peace which they must keep.
“The Word has lost its meaning that was preached to them of old
When they thought that Peace was purchased with their silver and their gold.
And so go down, my son,
For His will it must be done,
And proclaim a better Faith which they must hold.”
When they thought that Peace was purchased with their silver and their gold.
And so go down, my son,
For His will it must be done,
And proclaim a better Faith which they must hold.”
And Lazarus descended, and to every man he spake.
Yet the gospel was rejected, which he preached for all men’s sake.
For the dogs yet licked their sores,
Who were wounded in the Wars,
And none of them would give, though all would take.
Yet the gospel was rejected, which he preached for all men’s sake.
For the dogs yet licked their sores,
Who were wounded in the Wars,
And none of them would give, though all would take.
And against whate’er he taught them every man of them rebelled,
Saying: “Give us back the City where of old our fathers dwelled.
We shall take our heart’s desire,
Though it be by steel and fire,
And who will not have it so must be compelled.”
Saying: “Give us back the City where of old our fathers dwelled.
We shall take our heart’s desire,
Though it be by steel and fire,
And who will not have it so must be compelled.”
Thus Cimmeria and Scythia spake with him in the way
And the ultimate of Thules and the uttermost Cathay.
And Atlantis by her seas
Had no better thought than these.
And Carchedon and Gades said him nay.
And the ultimate of Thules and the uttermost Cathay.
And Atlantis by her seas
Had no better thought than these.
And Carchedon and Gades said him nay.
Rose up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece.
And too well he saw their anger and their agony increase,
While Dives in his rags
By his gutted money-bags
Mocked Lazarus who could not make the Peace.
And too well he saw their anger and their agony increase,
While Dives in his rags
By his gutted money-bags
Mocked Lazarus who could not make the Peace.
Said Dives unto Lazarus: “I saw thee once on high
From my couch among the torments. Art thou better now than I?
Well Father Abraham said:
‘If a man rose from the dead,
They would but gibe to hear him prophesy.’
From my couch among the torments. Art thou better now than I?
Well Father Abraham said:
‘If a man rose from the dead,
They would but gibe to hear him prophesy.’
“They will rend the main foundations of the universe apart,
For by their ghastly science they have found the ghastly art,
Whose planet-splitting blast
Shall deliver men at last
From the sorrow of the mind and of the heart.
For by their ghastly science they have found the ghastly art,
Whose planet-splitting blast
Shall deliver men at last
From the sorrow of the mind and of the heart.
“Unless thy wit prevent it, greater ill than ever chanced
Shall overcome this people when the banners are advanced.
It may be, my brother, thou
Hast the guile to curb it now.
I could not. But avert it, if thou canst.
Shall overcome this people when the banners are advanced.
It may be, my brother, thou
Hast the guile to curb it now.
I could not. But avert it, if thou canst.
“Their thought is void of virtue, as their action is inept.
And they will not keep the faith — as if faith were ever kept.
Hast thou then some loving-kindness
That will heal them of their blindness?
O Lazarus, what help?” And Dives wept.
And they will not keep the faith — as if faith were ever kept.
Hast thou then some loving-kindness
That will heal them of their blindness?
O Lazarus, what help?” And Dives wept.
