``Give'' and ``It-shall-be-given-unto-you.'' <br /> <br /> I. <br /> <br />Grand rough old Martin Luther <br /> Bloomed fables---flowers on furze, <br />The better the uncouther: <br /> Do roses stick like burrs? <br /> <br /> II. <br /> <br />A beggar asked an alms <br /> One day at an abbey-door, <br />Said Luther; but, seized with qualms, <br /> The abbot replied, ``We're poor! <br /> <br /> III. <br /> <br />``Poor, who had plenty once, <br /> ``When gifts fell thick as rain: <br />``But they give us nought, for the nonce, <br /> ``And how should we give again?'' <br /> <br /> IV. <br /> <br />Then the beggar, ``See your sins! <br /> ``Of old, unless I err, <br />``Ye had brothers for inmates, twins, <br /> ``Date and Dabitur. <br /> <br /> V. <br /> <br />``While Date was in good case <br /> ``Dabitur flourished too: <br />``For Dabitur's lenten face <br /> ``No wonder if Date rue. <br /> <br /> VI. <br /> <br />``Would ye retrieve the one? <br /> ``Try and make plump the other! <br />``When Date's penance is done, <br /> ``Dabitur helps his brother. <br /> <br /> VII. <br /> <br />``Only, beware relapse!'' <br /> The Abbot hung his head. <br />This beggar might be perhaps <br /> An angel, Luther said.<br /><br />Robert Browning<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/twins-the/
