Page:Poems of Nature and Life.djvu/365

 POET AND TOLL-GATHEREK

" And he who must have stayed below,

If with one foot obliged to delve, Though he be blind, thus safe may go,

And climb the rugged mount on twelve ; Still easier task, when from behind Blown onward by opinion's wind.

" Thou couldst join these." " Churl, curb thy speech,

Or I'll report thee to the god. And tell him, when the top I reach.

His servant's back requires a rod." " O would e'en now he might appear. To stay this mob from mounting here !

" All night their gongs and yells and cries Keep me awake." "What ! on this hill

No longer to the listening skies

Chant those fair maids when winds are still }

Tell me, and hath the offended god

In sorrow left his blest abode ? "

" Thou'lt find him not." " Then who will teach ? " " Fear not ! there bores of every nation

Thou'lt meet, there hear all Babel's speech ! Yet, friend, if bent on education,

Thou'lt find, in many a lonely nook,

Viol and lute and music book.

" For on this god-abandoned hill

Are many mansions. Wise and weak Here worship Phoebus' image still ;

His followers many a language speak ; And each an instrument can find Tuned to such airs as suit his mind.

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