Onze Stam. Jaargang 1907

[p. 159]

Kapila.

I.

‘Kapila, Kapila, so young and so true,
I yearn for a glory like thine
And hail thee from battle to ask anew
Can ever thy Valor be mine?’

Kapila sat on his charger dun,
A hero never so grave.
‘Who loveth all things, has fear of none,
't Is love that maketh me brave.

A woman gave me her soul one day
The soul of my soul to be alway;
Thence came my Valor to me
Go try it - try it - and see’.

II.

Kapila, Kapila, so old and grey,
The queen is calling for me;
But ere I go hence, I wist thou wouldst say
How Wisdom first came to thee.

Kapila stood in his temple door,
A priest in eremit guise:
‘It did not come as men get their lore,
't Is faith, that maketh me wise’.

A woman gave me her heart one day,
The heart of my heart to be alway;
Thence came my wisdom to me,
Go try it - try it - and see.

(Ben Hur). Edition of Reking and Co Ltd. London. P. 230.