Page:Familiar letters of Henry David Thoreau.djvu/145

 2BT.26.] TO R. W. EMERSON. 121

Waldo and Tappan at their counting-room, or rather intelligence office.

I must still reckon myself with the innumer able army of invalids, undoubtedly in a fair field they would rout the well, though I am tougher than formerly. Methinks I could paint the sleepy god more truly than the poets have done, from more intimate experience. Indeed, I have not kept my eyes very steadily open to the things of this world of late, and hence have little to report concerning them. However, I trust the awakening will come before the last trump, and then perhaps I may remember some of my dreams.

I study the aspects of commerce at its Nar rows here, where it passes in review before me, and this seems to be beginning at the right end to understand this Babylon. I have made a very rude translation of the Seven against Thebes, and Pindar too I have looked at, and wish he was better worth translating. I believe even the best things are not equal to their fame. Perhaps it would be better to translate fame itself, or is not that what the poets themselves do ? However, I have not done with Pindar yet. I sent a long article on Etzler s book to the &quot; Democratic Review &quot; six weeks ago, which at length they have determined not to accept, as they could not subscribe to all the opinions,