Twins, The

``Give'' and ``It-shall-be-given-unto-you.''

I.

Grand rough old Martin Luther
  Bloomed fables---flowers on furze,
The better the uncouther:
  Do roses stick like burrs?

II.

A beggar asked an alms
  One day at an abbey-door,
Said Luther; but, seized with qualms,
  The abbot replied, ``We're poor!

III.

``Poor, who had plenty once,
  ``When gifts fell thick as rain:
``But they give us nought, for the nonce,
  ``And how should we give again?''

IV.

Then the beggar, ``See your sins!
  ``Of old, unless I err,
``Ye had brothers for inmates, twins,
  ``Date and Dabitur.

V.

``While Date was in good case
  ``Dabitur flourished too:
``For Dabitur's lenten face
  ``No wonder if Date rue.

VI.

``Would ye retrieve the one?
  ``Try and make plump the other!
``When Date's penance is done,
  ``Dabitur helps his brother.

VII.

``Only, beware relapse!''
  The Abbot hung his head.
This beggar might be perhaps
  An angel, Luther said.