| THE MASTER played the bishop’s pawn, | |
| For jest, while Atherton looked on; | |
| The master played this way and that, | |
| And Atherton, amazed thereat, | |
| Said “Now I have a thing in view | 5 |
| That will enlighten one or two, | |
| And make a difference or so | |
| In what it is they do not know.” | |
| |
| The morning stars together sang | |
| And forth a mighty music rang— | 10 |
| Not heard by many, save as told | |
| Again through magic manifold | |
| By such a few as have to play | |
| For others, in the Master’s way, | |
| The music that the Master made | 15 |
| When all the morning stars obeyed. | |
| |
| Atherton played the bishop’s pawn | |
| While more than one or two looked on; | |
| Atherton played this way and that, | |
| And many a friend, amused thereat, | 20 |
| Went on about his business | |
| Nor cared for Atherton the less; | |
| A few stood longer by the game, | |
| With Atherton to them the same. | |
| |
| The morning stars are singing still, | 25 |
| To crown, to challenge, and to kill; | |
| And if perforce there falls a voice | |
| On pious ears that have no choice | |
| Except to urge an erring hand | |
| To wreak its homage on the land, | 30 |
| Who of us that is worth his while | |
| Will, if he listen, more than smile? | |
| |
| Who of us, being what he is, | |
| May scoff at others’ ecstasies? | |
| However we may shine to-day, | 35 |
| More-shining ones are on the way; | |
| And so it were not wholly well | |
| To be at odds with Azrael,— | |
| Nor were it kind of any one | |
| To sing the end of Atherton. | 40 |
