Rich And Poor (A Ballad For Union) Poem by Martin Farquhar Tupper

O ladies, lords, and gentlemen,
Attend to what I say,
For well I wot you'll like it when
You listen to my lay;
And labourers and weavers too,
Come near, who ever can,
I want the best of all of you,
To build a Noble Man.

The time is past for lofty looks,
As well as vulgar deeds;
Religion, common-sense, and books,
O these are magic seeds!
They kill whate'er in man was proud,
And nourish what is wise,
And feed the humblest of the crowd
With manna from the skies.

Ay, dreary days of high-bred scorn,
You've somewhile died away,--
And better were the fool unborn,
Who tries it on to-day:
Ay, wintry nights of low-bred sin,
You've stolen out of sight,
And all things base, without, within,
Are scatter'd by the light.

Take copy of the small, ye great!
In all that's free and frank;
Add cordial ways to courteous state,
And heartiness to rank:
Take copy of the great, ye small,
In all that's soft and fair,
Honourable to each and all,
And gentle everywhere!

The gracious source of all our wealth
In body, mind, or store,
Pours life and light and hope and health
Alike on rich and poor;
And though so many covet ill
Some neighbour's happier state,
They little heed how kind a Will
Has fix'd them in their fate.

Think, justly think, what liberal aids
Invention gives to all,
While Truth shines out, and Error fades,
Alike for great and small;
How well the rail, the post, the press,
Help universal Man,
The highest peer, and hardly less
The humblest artizan.

Religion, like an angel, stands
To solace every mind;
And science, with her hundred hands,
Is blessing all mankind;
All eyes may see a beauteous sight,
All ears may hear sweet sound,
And sage-desired seeds of light
Are broadcast all around.

Lo, the high places levelling down,
The valleys filling up!
Magnates, who ought to wear a crown,
Drain Charity's cold cup;
While Industry, of humblest birth,
With Prudence well allied,
O'ertops the topmost peaks of earth,
The palaces of pride.

Be humble then, ye mighty men!
Be humble, poor of earth!
Be God alone exalted, when
He speaks by plague and dearth!
Let each be grateful, friendly, true,--
And that will be the plan,
To make of peer, and peasant too,
A truly Noble Man!