The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1895-04-27
st. Paul's Poem on Love.

Editor of the Intellige ncer:
The underwritten lines, a metrical
arrangement in English of the Greek
metrical arrangement of st. Paul's
words IN ''charity," or, as it should
be, love, are so fine that I think that
many OF your readers would enjoy and
like to have them, and 1 accordingly
send them. They appeared in the New
York World, and are by VIM. Vincent
Byars, whom l met once, and found to
be a distant klnsman, through some
Thornton's, of Virginia. The entire
article is exceedingly interesting, and
is an exposition of his discovery that
all the great classical poets of Greece,
from Homer to Dante, composed their
verse in rhyme.
One point Mr.. Byars does not touch
upon: The finding of the Scriptures Of
the New Testament in metrical Greek
seems to remove them farther from the
so-called autographs" Just As the
elaborate and grandly written ''Idylls
of the King" by Tennyson, are the
farthest from the originals Of the
Legends Of King Arthur, and the
knights of the Round Table. | do not
mean to say that Paul, the rugged
soldier, certainly did not write this in
metre for Cnaucer, too, was q poet.
and Burns a plOwman; but 1t is not
likely that he so made it. Later and
loving hands aud hearts aud brains no
doubt did the work.
The following lines, which illustrate
II simpler system OF Greek rhymes, are
as close n rendition Of the Greek and
the verse of tho thirteenth chapter
First Corinthians rs the writer's limita.
tons will allow him to make:
Had-I not love, although my voice bsds
men aud angels all rejoice with har-
monies Of heaven above, alas 1t were
in vainl Alas! but cymbai's sound
OF tinkiing brass, and naught my
gain, and naught my gain, had |
not Lowell
Though / were fsin of mysteries and
prophets, and though l knew all
secrecies OF earth below and HEAVIER
above, and even although my faitt
doth prove mighty to you
mountains mass, IL were in vair
haa ] not Lowell
And even although with glad desire my
goods l give that starving men may
take aud live; though at the stak,
In lame Of fire, ! die tor the Redeem
er's name, and have not love, IL wer,
bat shamel
He, in whose mind the heavenly love it,
home doth make, will suffer ioul
and still be kind for loves deaI
sake!
Low vaunteth not, for In its heart n,
vanity Of pride hath part.
It moyeth all to courtesy; 1t doth no
seek its ownI 1t is not angeret
easily; it loveth not iniquity; /
Il, We the truth alone.
All things 1t bears; 1t has all faith; al
hopes 1t shares, nor doth 1t fai
though railing tongues assail 1t.
Love doth not fail, but prophecies q al
the lore of tongues shall cease, an,
knowledge too shall be no more.
In this brief day we know in part, Blu
when we perfect are in heart, on
partial knowledge will not last, blu
pass away.
In infants swaddiing bands confined,
had the ~nfant tongue and mind
but the strong man is not beguilet
by the weak fancies OF the child!
Still, still, We see all things that pass
darkly as In Q wizards glass, blu
when we gain besyep's perfect grac
we shall see all things face to face
For here below small is the part | e'er cal
know OF Gods great All; but ther,
on high before Gods throne, there
even also-shaH know as ] an
knowni
And now remain faith, hope and love
these three, the greatest Of God
train in earth bslpW or heavel
above. And greatest OF the three 1
love.
GEORGE WILSON.