There stood two glasses, filled to the brim,

On a rich man's table, rim to rim,

One was ruddy and red as blood,

And one as clear as the crystal flood.

Said the glass of wine to the paler brother:

"Let us tell the tales of the past to each other.

I can tell of banquet, revel and mirth,

And the proudest and grandest souls on earth

Fell under my touch as though struck by blight,

Where I was a king, for I ruled in night.

From the heads of kings I have torn the crown;

From the heights of fame I have hurled men down.

I have blasted many an honored name;

I have taken virtue and given shame.

I have tempted youth with a sip, a taste

That has made his future a barren waste.

Far greater than a king am I,

Or than any army beneath the sky.

I have made the arm of the driver fail,

And sent the train from the iron rail.

I have made good ships go down at sea,

And the shrieks of the lost were sweet to me,

For they said, "Behold! how great you be!"

Fame, strength, wealth, genius before me fall,

For my might and power are over all.

Ho! ho! pale brother," laughed the wine,

"Can you boast of deeds so great as mine?"

The water said proudly, "I cannot boast

Of a king dethroned or a murdered host;

But I can tell of a heart once sad,

By my crystal drops made light and glad—

Of thirsts I've quenched, of brows I've laved;

Of hands I've cooled and souls I've saved;

I've leaped thro' the valley, dashed down the mountain,

Formed beautiful rivers and played in fountain,

Slept in the sunshine and dropped from the sky

And everywhere gladdened the landscape and eye.

I've eased the hot forehead of fever and pain,

I've made the parched meadows grow fertile with grain;

I can tell of the powerful wheel of the mill

That ground out flower and turned at my will;

I can tell of manhood, debased by you.

That I lifted up and crowned anew.

I cheer, I help, I strengthen and aid;

I gladden the heart of man and maid;

I set your close-chained captive free

And all are better for knowing me."

These are the tales they told each other—

The glass of wine and its paler brother—

As they sat together, filled to the brim.

On the rich man's table, rim to rim.