Page:Sophocles - Seven Plays, 1900.djvu/47

332–364]

Many a wonder lives and moves, but the wonder of all is man,

That courseth over the grey ocean, carried of Southern gale,

Faring amidst high-swelling seas that rudely surge around,

And Earth, supreme of mighty Cods, eldest, imperishable,

Eternal, he with patient furrow wears and wears away

As year by year the plough-shares turn and turn,—

Subduing her unwearied strength with children of the steed.

And wound in woven coils of nets he seizeth for his prey

The aëry tribe of birds and wilding armies of the chase,

And sea-born millions of the deep—man is so crafty-wise.

And now with engine of his wit he tameth to his will

The mountain-ranging beast whose lair is in the country wild;

And now his yoke hath passed upon the mane

Of horse with proudly crested neck and tireless mountain bull.

Wise utterance and wind-swift thought, and city-moulding mind,

And shelter from the clear-eyed power of biting frost,

He hath taught him, and to shun the sharp, roof-penetrating rain,—

Full of resource, without device he meets no coming time;

From Death alone he shall not find reprieve;

No league may gain him that relief; but even for fell disease,

That long hath baffled wisest leech, he hath contrived a cure.