Plenteousness

'Twas night; on earth all creatures were asleep, / when lo! the figures of our gods, the same / whom erst from falling Ilion o'er the deep / I brought, scarce rescued from the midmost flame, / before me, sleepless for my country's shame, / stood plain, in plenteousness of light confessed, / where streaming through the sunken lattice came / the moon's full splendour, and their speech addressed, / and I in heart took comfort, hearing their behest.

Few, save the poor, feel for the poor: The rich know not, how hard It is to be of needful food And needful rest debarred. Their paths are paths of plenteousness, They sleep on silk and down; And never think how heavily The weary head lies down.