Page:Miscellanies - With a biographical sketch by Ralph Waldo Emerson and a general index to the writings. -- by Thoreau, Henry David.djvu/328

308 What you know; the sufferings of mortals too

You've heard, how I made intelligent

And possessed of sense them ignorant before.

But I will speak, not bearing any grudge to men,

But showing in what I gave the good intention;

At first, indeed, seeing they saw in vain,

And hearing heard not; but like the forms

Of dreams, for that long time, rashly confounded

All, nor brick-woven dwellings

Knew they, placed in the sun, nor woodwork;

But digging down they dwelt, like puny

Ants, in sunless nooks of caves.

And there was naught to them, neither of winter sign,

Nor of flower-giving spring, nor fruitful

Summer, that was sure; but without knowledge

Did they all, till I taught them the risings

Of the stars, and goings down, hard to determine.

And numbers, chief of inventions,

I found out for them, and the assemblages of letters,

And memory, Muse-mother, doer of all things;

And first I joined in pairs wild animals

Obedient to the yoke; and that they might be

Alternate workers with the bodies of men

In the severest toils, I harnessed the rein-loving horses