Chapter XVII

O thou who hast come safely, into this Being's Land;
Strange, thou thyself not knowest, how thou didst reach its Strand.—
Straight from the great Shah's Chamber, thou cam'st to Being's Town,
Sent here to do the Business which he himself had planned.
The Lord gave, then, to prove thee, Capacity to do;
And as entrusted Capital, thy Sum of Life in hand.
How has the Market's Turmoil confused thy Sense and Brain;
That thou the Pledge entrusted, can yet not understand?
O cease to dream and rouse thee; and do thy Duty well;
Buy choicest Pearls more wisely, and give not Gold for Sand.
When thou to Home returnest, thou'lt see Him sitting there;
Thy Lord with His Book open, and His own faithful Band.
He will hold count, and reckon all that Himself did give;
And ask how thou did'st use it, when under His Command.
And then will come His Blessing, or Curse, both just and sure,
According as thy Credit, or thy Debt, summed up shall stand.

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