<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=536756" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>The Touchstone</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0">A man there came, whence none could tell, <br>Bearing a Touchstone in his hand; <br>And tested all things in the land <br>By its unerring spell. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Quick birth of transmutation smote <br>The fair to foul, the foul to fair; <br>Purple nor ermine did he spare, <br>Nor scorn the dusty coat. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Of heirloom jewels, prized so much, <br>Were many changed to chips and clods, <br>And even statues of the Gods <br>Crumbled beneath its touch. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then angrily the people cried, <br>'The loss outweighs the profit far; <br>Our goods suffice us as they are <br>We will not have then tried.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And since they could not so prevail <br>To check this unrelenting guest, <br>They seized him, saying - 'Let him test <br>How real it is, our jail! '</div><div style="margin:10px 0">But, though they slew him with the sword, <br>And in a fire his Touchstone burn'd, <br>Its doings could not be o'erturned, <br>Its undoings restored. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">And when to stop all future harm, <br>They strew'd its ashes on the breeze; <br>They little guess'd each grain of these <br>Convey'd the perfect charm. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">North, south, in rings and amulets,<br>Throughout the crowded world 'tis borne; <br>Which, as a fashion long outworn,<br>In ancient mind forgets.</div><div style="margin:10px 0"><br /></a><br />poem by <a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/by.php?a=William+Allingham">William Allingham</a><div class=q> <img src="https://www.citatepedia.ro/g/32share.png" style="float:left" alt="Share"> <script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=citatepedia" async="async"></script><div style="display:inline-block" class="addthis_sharing_toolbox" data-url="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=536756" data-title="The Touchstone de William Allingham" data-description="A man there came, whence none could tell, Bearing a Touchstone in his hand; And tested all things in the land By its unerring spell. Quick birth of transmutation smote The fair to foul, the foul to fair; Purple nor ermine did he spare, Nor..."></div> </div> </div>

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