On A Group Of Justice And Charity
Or slurred through weakness and constraint;--
This noble Justice was not bred
In hearts defiled with any taint
Of selfish seeking, dark and dead.
Give, if you will, another name
To those fine scales so nicely hung,
And call her Conscience, and proclaim
Her sovereign right with every tongue--
But, because she is mortal, trust
Her not alone, lest, too severe,
She take account with diamond dust
Of baser metal; her beside
Let loving Charity abide,
With her young children gathered near.