1.One day there fell in great Benares’temple-courtA wondrous plate of gold，whereon these words were writ：“To him who loveth best，a gift from Heaven.”
2.Thereat The priests made proclamation：“At the mid-day hour，Each day，let those assemble who for virtue deem Their right to heaven‘s gift the best；and we will hearThe deeds of mercy done，and so adjudge .”
3.The news Ran swift as light，and soon from every quarter’cameNobles and peasants，hermits，scholars，holy men，And all renowned for gracious or for splendid deeds.Meanwhile the priests in solemn council sat，and heard What each had done to merit best the gift of Heaven.So for a year the claimants came and went.
4.At last，After a patient weighing of the worth of all，The priests bestowed the plate of gold on one who seemed The largest lover of the race-whose whole estate Within the year had parted been among the poor.
This man，all trembling with his joy，advanced to take The golden plate-when，lo，at his first finger-touch It changed to basest lead ！All stood aghast ；but when The hapless claimant dropped it clanging on the floor，Heaven‘s guerdonwas again transformed to shining gold.
5.So for another twelvemonth sat the priests and judged；Thrice they awarded-thrice did Heaven refuse the gift.Meanwhile a host of poor maimed beggars in the street Lay all about the temple gate，in hope to moveThat love whereby each claimant hoped to win the gift.And well for them it was （if gold be charity），For every pilgrim to the temple gate praised God That love might thus approve itself before the test.And so the coins rained freely in the outstretched hands；But none of those who gave so much as turned to look Into the poor sad eyes of them that begged.
6.And now The second year had almost passed，but still the plate Of gold，by whomsoever touched，was turned to lead.At length there came a simple peasant-not aware Of that strange contest for the gift of God-to payA vow within the temple.As he passed alongThe line of shrivelledbeggars，all his soul was movedWithin him to sweet pity，and the tears welled up And trembled in his eyes：
7.Now by the temple gate There lay a poor sore creature，blind，and shumed by all；But when the peasant came，and saw the sightless face And trembling，festered hands，he could not pass，but knelt，And took both palms in his，and softly said：“O thou My brother，bear thy trouble bravely；God is good.”Then he arose and walked straightway across the court，And entered where they wrangledBefore the priests.
8.Awhile he listened sadly，then Had turned away；but something moved the priest who held The plate of gold to beckon to the peasant.SoHe came，not understanding，and obeyed，and stretched His hand，and took the sacred vessel.Lo！it shoneWith thrice its former lustre，and amazed them all.
“Son，”cried the priest，“rejoice！The gift of God is thine-Thou lovest best！”And all made answer，“It is well.”
