The Sultan’s Lesson
A Sultan placed before his throne one day
Three vases—one of gold, one amber, and one clay;
And when his seal was set upon each urn,
His three sons, at his bidding, chose in turn.
Upon the golden vase “Empire” was writ;
Resplendent jewels all around it stood;
The eldest grasped that vase and opened it,
But shrank to find it brimming full of blood.
“Glory” upon the amber vase shone bright;
Fresh wreaths of laurel twined the letters o’er;
The second seized it quick; but ah, sad sight!
‘Twas filled with dust of heroes known no more.
No word was written on the vase of earth;
But still the youngest son advanced his claim;
He oped the urn amid the courtiers’ mirth,
And naught was in it save God’s holy name.
The Sultan to the throng of courtiers turned,
And asked which of the vases weighed the most.
Various the thoughts which in their bosoms burned,
And came to speech among the glittering host.
The warriors said, “The golden vase of Might”;
The poets said, “The amber vase of Fame”;
The sages said, “The vase emblem of Right,—
The globe is lighter than God’s written name.”
Then said the Sultan, “Sons, remember well
The meaning of the lesson read to-day;
When the scales tremble betwixt good and ill.
The name of God will all the rest outweigh.
—W. R. Alger
Alternate Reading: Acts 5:12-16.