English poem
The Two Estates
by Mary Howitt (1799–1888)
The children of the rich old man no carking care they know, Like lilies in the sunshine how beautiful they grow!
And well may they be beautiful; in raiment of the best, In velvet, gold, and ermine, their little forms are drest.
With a hat and jaunty feather set lightly on their head, And golden hair, like angels’ locks, over their shoulders spread.
And well may they be beautiful; they toil not, neither spin, Nor dig, nor delve, nor do they ought their daily bread to win.
They eat from gold and silver all luxuries wealth can buy; They sleep on beds of softest down, in chambers rich and high.
They dwell in lordly houses, with gardens round about, And servants to attend them if they go in or out.
They have music for the hearing, and pictures for the eye, And exquisite and costly things each sense to gratify.
No wonder they are beautiful! and if they chanceto die, Among dead lords and ladies, in the chancel vault they lie.
With marble tablets on the wall inscribed, that all may know, The children of the rich man are mouldering below.