SELECTIONS IN ENGLISH POETRY
Nor will we have a slave or king,
Nor yet will we learn anything
But that we know, that makes us glad; 645
While oft the very Gods are sad
With knowing what the Fates shall do;
* Neither from us shall wisdom go
To fill the hungering hearts of men,
Lest to them threescore years and ten 6j0
Łome but to seem a little day,
Once given, taken soon away.
Nay, rather let them find their life
Bitter and sweet, fulfilled of strife,
Restless with hope, vain with regret, 655
Trembling with fear, most strangely set
'Twixt memory and forgetfulness ;
So more shall joy be, troubles less,
And surely when all this is past,
They shall not want their rest at last. 660
*Let earth and heaven go their way,
While still we watch from day to day,
In this green place left all alone,
A remnant of the days long gone.'
There in the wind they hung, as word by word 665
The clear-voiced singers silently they heard ;
But when the air was barren of their song,
A nigh the shore they durst not linger long,
So northward turned forewearied Argo's head,
And dipping oars, from that fair country sped, 670
Fulfilled of new desires and pensive thought,
Which that day's life unto their hearts had brought.
Then hard they toiled upon the bitter sea,
in two days they did not fail to be
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