Three Gifts

The Book of Odes, by L. Cranmer-Byng, [1908], at sacred-texts.com

p. 43

THREE GIFTS

A royal gourd was given me,
And in exchange an emerald I gave,
No mere return for courtesy,
But that our friendship might outlast the grave.

A princely peach was given me,
And in exchange a ruby gem I gave,
No mere exchange for courtesy,
But that our friendship might outlast the grave.

A yellow plum was given me,
And in exchange a sardonyx I gave,
No mere return for courtesy,
But that our friendship might outlast the grave.