Self-Satisfied

Well satisfied with all his own, he stands         Holding a trembling balance in his hands;         On one scale - wealth and ease, men's praises, too -         Whatever charms the soul, and keeps it true.         But on the other scale - lo - the foul street         Where pallid children play, where poor folk greet,         And crowded houses dirty, dimly lit,         On whose dull walls all misery is writ,         Houses wherein the herded cannot fight         The ambushed evil lurking day and night.         Has he - contented one - who counts his gain,         Balanced the cost - the wretchedness and pain         Of those who help him hoard his heap of gold?         Ah, human life may be too dearly sold!         For see, the one scale weighs the other down.         His gold, his ease, his honors - by Heaven's frown         Withered to nothing, now, behold he stands -         Broken his scales - reaching imploring hands.