The Two Glasses

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

1850 to 1919

Track 1

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I have taken virtue and given shame;

Of thirsts I have quenched and brows I have laved,

I have made the parched meadows grow fertile with grain.

And the shrieks of the lost were sweet to me.

I cheer, I help, I strengthen and aid,

As they sat together, filled to the brim,

Far greater than any king am I,

On a rich man's table, rim to rim.

"Let us tell tales of the past to each other;

Or than any army beneath the sky.

That ground out the flour, and turned at my will.

These are the tales they told each other,

And sent the train from the iron rail.

Said the Glass of Wine to his paler brother:

I have made the arm of the driver fail,

And everywhere gladdened the prospect and eye;

I set the wine-chained captive free,

I can tell of manhood debased by you

That I have uplifted and crowned anew;

The Glass of Wine, and its paler brother,

On a rich man's table, rim to rim,

But I can tell of hearts that were sad,

By my crystal drops made bright and glad;

Ho, ho, pale brother," said the Wine,

I have made good ships go down at sea,

From the heads of kings I have torn the crown;

I have leaped through the valley, dashed down the mountain,

I can tell of banquet and revel and mirth,

From the heights of fame I have hurled men down.

Fell under my touch, as though struck with blight.

For the proudest and grandest souls of earth

Of a king dethroned, or a murdered host;

I have eased the hot forehead of fever and pain,

And one was clear as the crystal flood.

"Can you boast of deeds as great as mine?"

I gladden the heart of man and maid;

Slipped from the sunshine, and dripped from the fountain,

I have burst my cloud-fetters, and dropped from the sky,

I have blasted many an honored name;

And all are better for knowing me."

I have tempted youth with a sip, a taste,

Where I was king, for I ruled in might;

That has made his future a barren waste.

Said the Water Glass: "I cannot boast

Fame, strength, wealth, genius before me fall;

And my might and power are over all!

Of hands I have cooled, and souls I have saved.

There sat two glasses filled to the brim

One was ruddy and red as blood,

I can tell of the powerful wheel of the mill,

There sat two glasses filled to the brim
On a rich man's table, rim to rim,
One was ruddy and red as blood,
And one was clear as the crystal flood.

Said the Glass of Wine to his paler brother:
"Let us tell tales of the past to each other;
I can tell of banquet and revel and mirth,
Where I was king, for I ruled in might;
For the proudest and grandest souls of earth
Fell under my touch, as though struck with blight.
From the heads of kings I have torn the crown;
From the heights of fame I have hurled men down.
I have blasted many an honored name;
I have taken virtue and given shame;
I have tempted youth with a sip, a taste,
That has made his future a barren waste.
Far greater than any king am I,
Or than any army beneath the sky.
I have made the arm of the driver fail,
And sent the train from the iron rail.
I have made good ships go down at sea,
And the shrieks of the lost were sweet to me.
Fame, strength, wealth, genius before me fall;
And my might and power are over all!
Ho, ho, pale brother," said the Wine,
"Can you boast of deeds as great as mine?"

Said the Water Glass: "I cannot boast
Of a king dethroned, or a murdered host;
But I can tell of hearts that were sad,
By my crystal drops made bright and glad;
Of thirsts I have quenched and brows I have laved,
Of hands I have cooled, and souls I have saved.
I have leaped through the valley, dashed down the mountain,
Slipped from the sunshine, and dripped from the fountain,
I have burst my cloud-fetters, and dropped from the sky,
And everywhere gladdened the prospect and eye;
I have eased the hot forehead of fever and pain,
I have made the parched meadows grow fertile with grain.
I can tell of the powerful wheel of the mill,
That ground out the flour, and turned at my will.
I can tell of manhood debased by you
That I have uplifted and crowned anew;
I cheer, I help, I strengthen and aid,
I gladden the heart of man and maid;
I set the wine-chained captive free,
And all are better for knowing me."

These are the tales they told each other,
The Glass of Wine, and its paler brother,
As they sat together, filled to the brim,
On a rich man's table, rim to rim.

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The Two Glasses

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

1850 to 1919

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