Page:Poems, Household Edition, Emerson, 1904.djvu/63

Rh There my thoughts the matter roll,

And solve and oft resolve the whole.

And, for I 'm styled Alphonse the Wise,

Ye shall not fail for sound advice.

Before ye want a drop of rain,

Hear the sentiment of Spain.

You have tried famine: no more try it;

Ply us now with a full diet;

Teach your pupils now with plenty,

For one sun supply us twenty.

I have thought it thoroughly over,—

State of hermit, state of lover;

We must have society,

We cannot spare variety.

Hear you, then, celestial fellows!

Fits not to be overzealous;

Steads not to work on the clean jump,

Nor wine nor brains perpetual pump.

Men and gods are too extense;

Could you slacken and condense?

Your rank overgrowths reduce

Till your kinds abound with juice?

Earth, crowded, cries, 'Too many men!'

My counsel is, kill nine in ten,

And bestow the shares of all

On the remnant decimal.

Add their nine lives to this cat;

Stuff their nine brains in one hat;