God's Greatest Gift

Great God, Thy greatest gift
Is the full knowledge which comes to man-
How oft, how oft belated!
The knowledge that he be a fool!
What impudence is his!
This folly-pated fool, that he demand
His heritance with Thee!
Shaking his belled scepter, he would jest
At the gateway of the heavens,
And dancing, as his ass' ears lopped,
Go mincing up to the Prince's throne!
Alike hath man inherited wisdom and folly,
Yea, and he liveth his day to learn-
Which be his rightful heritage!