Page:Miscellanies - With a biographical sketch by Ralph Waldo Emerson and a general index to the writings. -- by Thoreau, Henry David.djvu/353

Rh And beg him, greatly hated,

With womanish upturnings of the hands,

To loose me from these bonds. I am far from it. Her. Though saying much I seem in vain to speak;

For thou art nothing softened nor appeased

By prayers; but champing at the bit like a new-yoked

Colt, thou strugglest and contend'st against the reins.

But thou art violent with feeble wisdom.

For stubbornness to him who is not wise,

Itself alone, is less than nothing strong.

But consider, if thou art not persuaded by my words,

What storm and triple surge of ills

Will come upon thee, not to be avoided; for first this rugged

Cliff with thunder and lightning flame

The Father 'll rend, and hide

Thy body, and a strong arm will bury thee.

When thou hast spent a long length of time,

Thou wilt come back to light; and Zeus'

Winged dog, a bloodthirsty eagle, ravenously

Shall tear the great rag of thy body,

Creeping an uninvited guest all day,

And banquet on thy liver black by eating.

Of such suffering expect not any end,