Page:Miscellanies - With a biographical sketch by Ralph Waldo Emerson and a general index to the writings. -- by Thoreau, Henry David.djvu/330

310 I made known to them; and tokens by the way,

And flight of crooked-taloned birds I accurately

Defined, which lucky are,

And unlucky, and what mode of life

Have each, and to one another what

Hostilities, attachments, and assemblings;

The entrails' smoothness, and what color having

They would be to the divinities acceptable;

Of the gall and liver the various symmetry,

And the limbs concealed in fat; and the long

Flank burning, to an art hard to be guessed

I showed the way to mortals; and flammeous signs

Explained, before obscure.

Such indeed these; and under ground

Concealed the helps to men;

Brass, iron, silver, gold, who

Would affirm that he discovered before me?

None, I well know, not wishing in vain to boast.

But learn all in one word,

All arts to mortals from Prometheus. Ch. Assist not mortals now unseasonably,

And neglect yourself unfortunate; for I

Am of good hope that, from these bonds

Released, you will yet have no less power than Zeus.