GOD sent his Singers upon earth | |
| With songs of sadness and of mirth, | |
| That they might touch the hearts of men, | |
| And bring them back to heaven again. | |
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| The first, a youth with soul of fire, | 5 |
| Held in his hand a golden lyre; | |
| Through groves he wandered, and by streams, | |
| Playing the music of our dreams. | |
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| The second, with a bearded face, | |
| Stood singing in the market-place, | 10 |
| And stirred with accents deep and loud | |
| The hearts of all the listening crowd. | |
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| A gray old man, the third and last, | |
| Sang in cathedrals dim and vast, | |
| While the majestic organ rolled | 15 |
| Contrition from its mouths of gold. | |
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| And those who heard the Singers three | |
| Disputed which the best might be; | |
| For still their music seemed to start | |
| Discordant echoes in each heart. | 20 |
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| But the great Master said, “I see | |
| No best in kind, but in degree; | |
| I gave a various gift to each, | |
| To charm, to strengthen, and to teach. | |
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| “These are the three great chords of might, | 25 |
| And he whose ear is tuned aright | |
| Will hear no discord in the three, | |
| But the most perfect harmony.” | |
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