The Twin Genii.
‘ And this warld, ye ken, sir, and nane kens better, was ma
for Grief as weel as for Joy. Grief and Joy, unlike as they ap-
pear in face and figure, are nevertheless sisters, and by Fate
and Destiny their verra lives depend on ane and the same eternal
Law. Were Grief banished frae this life, Joy wad soon dy
awa’ into the resemblance of her departed Soror. Ay, her fate
wad soon be whiter and mair wo-begone, and they wad soon be
buried side by side in ae grave.’
for Grief as weel as for Joy. Grief and Joy, unlike as they ap-
pear in face and figure, are nevertheless sisters, and by Fate
and Destiny their verra lives depend on ane and the same eternal
Law. Were Grief banished frae this life, Joy wad soon dy
awa’ into the resemblance of her departed Soror. Ay, her fate
wad soon be whiter and mair wo-begone, and they wad soon be
buried side by side in ae grave.’
—Noctes Ambrosianæ.
‘ Il n’y a rien plus près du rire que des larmes.’
There are twin Genii, who, strong and mighty,1
Under their guidance mankind retain ;2
And the name of the lovely one is Pleasure,3
And the name of the loathly one is Pain.4
Never divided, where one can enter5
Ever the other comes close behind ;6
And he who in Pleasure his thoughts would centre,7
Surely Pain in the search shall find !8
Alike they are, though in much they differ—9
Strong resemblance is ’twixt the twain ;10
So that sometimes you may question whether11
It can be Pieasure you feel or Pain.12
Thus ’tis that whatever of deep emotion13
Stirreth the heart—be it grave or gay,14
Tears are the symbol—from feeling’s ocean15
These are the fountains that rise to-day.16
Should not this teach us to calmly welcome17
Pleasure when smiling our hearths beside ?18
If she be the substance, how dark the shadow !19
Close doth it follow, the near-allied,20
Or if Pain long o’er our threshold hover,21
Let us not question, but Pleasure nigh22
Bideth her time her face to discover,23
Bow of Hope in a clouded sky !24