Page:Miscellanies - With a biographical sketch by Ralph Waldo Emerson and a general index to the writings. -- by Thoreau, Henry David.djvu/354

334 Before some god appear

Succeeding to thy labors, and wish to go to rayless

Hades, and the dark depths of Tartarus.

Therefore deliberate; since this is not made

Boasting, but in earnest spoken;

For to speak falsely does not know the mouth

Of Zeus, but every word he does. So

Look about thee, and consider, nor ever think

Obstinacy better than prudence. Ch. To us indeed Hermes appears to say not unseasonable things,

For he directs thee, leaving off

Self-will, to seek prudent counsel.

Obey; for it is base to err, for a wise man. Pr. To me foreknowing these messages

He has uttered, but for a foe to suffer ill

From foes is naught unseemly.

Therefore 'gainst me let there be hurled

Fire's double-pointed curl, and air

Be provoked with thunder, and a tumult

Of wild winds; and earth from its foundations

Let a wind rock, and its very roots,

And with a rough surge mingle

The sea waves with the passages

Of the heavenly stars, and to black

Tartarus let him quite cast down my

Body, by necessity's strong eddies.

Yet after all he will not kill me.