Justice

WHEN Deities from earth departute made,
    Justice I marked in attitude to soar ;
    No bandage veiled her eyes ; no blade she bore ;
Nor from her hand her wonted balance swayed.
” Goddess,” I cried, with tongue and heart dismayed,
    ” Bereft of thee and thine, how any more
    Shall Grief be stilled ? or Faith with Hope adore ?
Wrong be annulled ? or Benefit repaid ?”

” Fear not,” she said, ” though far I seem to wend
    Who omnipresent am, and whose award
    Hath course by automatic Law sublime ;
My bandage blinds the vulgar ; on my sword
The malefactor falls ; my scales depend
In nicest balance from the hand of Time.”