Then Tomlinson he gripped the bars and yammered, "Let me in

For I mind that I borrowed my neighbour's wife to sin the deadly sin."

The Devil he grinned behind the bars, and banked the fires high:

"Did ye read of that sin in a book?" said he; and

Tomlinson said, "Ay!"

The Devil he blew upon his nails, and the little devils ran,

And he said: "Go husk this whimpering thief that

comes in the guise of a man:

Winnow him out 'twixt star and star, and sieve his proper worth:

There's sore decline in Adam's line if this be spawn of earth."

Empusa's crew, so naked-new they may not face the fire,

But weep that they bin too small to sin to the height of their desire,

Over the coal they chased the Soul, and racked it all abroad,

As children rifle a caddis-case or the raven's foolish hoard.

And back they came with the tattered Thing, as children after play,

And they said: "The soul that he got from God he has bartered clean away.

We have threshed a stook of print and book, and

winnowed a chattering wind

And many a soul wherefrom he stole, but his we

cannot find:

We have handled him, we have dandled him, we have seared him to the bone,

And sure if tooth and nail show truth he has no soul

of his own."

The Devil he bowed his head on his breast and

rumbled deep and low:

"I'm all o'er-sib to Adam's breed that I should bid

him go.

Yet close we lie, and deep we lie, and if I gave him place,

My gentlemen that are so proud would flout me to my face;

They'd call my house a common stews and me a careless host,

And I would not anger my gentlemen for the sake of a shiftless ghost."

The Devil he looked at the mangled Soul that prayed to feel the flame,

And he thought of Holy Charity, but he thought of his own good name:

"Now ye could haste my coal to waste, and sit ye down to fry:

Did ye think of that theft for yourself?" said he; and Tomlinson said, "Ay!"

The Devil he blew an outward breath, for his heart

"Ye have scarce the soul of a louse," he said, "but

the roots of sin are there,

And for that sin should ye come in were I the lord alone. But sinful pride has rule inside-and mightier than

my own.

Honour and Wit, fore-damned they sit, to each his priest and whore:

Nay, scarce I dare myself go there, and you they'd

torture sore.

Ye are neither spirit nor spirk," he said; "ye are
neither book nor brute-

Go, get ye back to the flesh again for the sake of
Man's repute.

I'm all o'er-sib to Adam's breed that I should mock your pain,

But look that ye win to worthier sin ere ye come back again.

Get hence, the hearse is at your door-the grim black stallions wait

They bear your clay to place to-day. Speed, lest ye come too late!

Go back to Earth with a lip unsealed-go back with an open eye,

And carry my word to the Sons of Men or ever ye come to die:

That the sin they do by two and two they must pay

And... the God that you took from a printed book be with you, Tomlinson!"

L'ENVOI TO "LIFE'S HANDICAP"

My new-cut ashlar takes the light

Where crimson-blank the windows flare; By my own work, before the night, Great Overseer I make my prayer.

If there be good in that I wrought,

Thy hand compelled it, Master, Thine; Where I have failed to meet Thy thought I know, through Thee, the blame is mine.

One instant's toil to Thee denied

Stands all Eternity's offence,
Of that I did with Thee to guide
To Thee, through Thee, be excellence.

Who, lest all thought of Eden fade,
Bring'st Eden to the craftsman's brain,
Godlike to muse o'er his own trade
And Manlike stand with God again.

The depth and dream of my desire,
The bitter paths wherein I stray,

Thou knowest Who hast made the Fire,
Thou knowest Who hast made the Clay!

One stone the more swings to her place

In that dread Temple of Thy WorthIt is enough that through Thy grace I saw naught common on Thy earth.

Take not that vision from my ken;

Oh whatsoe'er may spoil or speed, Help me to need no aid from men That I may help such men as need!