Page:Selections from Ancient Irish Poetry - Meyer.djvu/57

 ON THE FLIGHTINESS OF THOUGHT

Shame to my thoughts, how they stray from
 * me!

I fear great danger from it on the day of eternal
 * Doom.

During the psalms they wander on a path that is
 * not right:

They fash, they fret, they misbehave before the
 * eyes of great God.

Through eager crowds, through companies of
 * wanton women,

Through woods, through cities—swifter they are
 * than the wind.

Now through paths of loveliness, anon of riotous
 * shame!

Without a ferry or ever missing a step they go
 * across every sea:

Swiftly they leap in one bound from earth to
 * heaven.

They run a race of folly anear and afar: After a course of giddiness they return to their
 * home.

Though one should try to bind them or put
 * shackles on their feet,

They are neither constant nor mindful to take a
 * spell of rest.

Neither sword-edge nor crack of whip will keep
 * them down strongly:

As slippery as an eel's tail they glide out of my
 * grasp.