CAPABILITY A SONNET
Reading edition
BY JOHN TROTWOOD MOORE
God sends duties to those who show themselves capable of duty, and power to those who are worthy of power.—Wm. McKinley.
There comes a time to Nations, as to man, When God shall test them with a furnace fire, Shall weigh them in the scales of His desire— Predestined law of long predestined plan. To him who measureth to the nobler span, He maketh him a model and a chart, Of all His ways a parcel and a part Wherever Fate, His pulse of purpose, ran. But woe to him He weigheth and find not! And woe to him that testeth not as gold! His name shall be in blighting and in blot, His fame the murk of mildew and of mold. He giveth power to him of power and beauty, He addeth strength to him of strength and duty.
