The Sonnets Of Tommaso Campanella - The Samaritan.

Da Roma ad Ostia.


From Rome to Ostia a poor man went;
        Thieves robbed and wounded him upon the way;
        Some monks, great saints, observed him where he lay,
        And left him, on their breviaries intent.
A Bishop passed thereby, and careless bent
        To sign the cross, a blessing brief to say;
        But a great Cardinal, to clutch their prey,
        Followed the thieves, falsely benevolent.
At last there came a German Lutheran,
        Who builds on faith, merit of works withstands;
        He raised and clothed and healed the dying man.
        Now which of these was worthiest, most humane?
The heart is better than the head, kind hands
        Than cold lip-service; faith without works is vain.
                        Who understands
        What creed is good and true for self and others?--
        But none can doubt the good he doth his brothers.