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O many men, on such a date of May,

Despaired and took their hopeless lives away

In such another place, it would appear

The assassinations averaged so and so,

Through August after August, scarce below

A given range; and in another one,

March after March, it seems there were undone

So many women still about the same,

With little varying circumstance in their shame;

Burglaries, arsons, thefts, and forgeries

Had their own averages as well as these;

And from these figures science can discern

The future in the past. We but return

Upon our steps, although they seem so free.

The thing that has been is that which shall be.