Page:Writings of Henry David Thoreau (1906) v5.djvu/391

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Know'st thou not well, with thy superior wisdom, that

On a vain tongue punishment is inflicted? Pr. I congratulate thee that thou art without blame,

Having shared and dared all with me;

And now leave off, and let it not concern thee.

For altogether thou wilt not persuade him, for he's not easily persuaded,

But take heed yourself lest you be injured by the way.

Oc. Far better thou art to advise those near

Than thyself; by deed and not by word I judge.

But me hastening by no means may est thou detain,

For I boast, I boast, this favor will Zeus

Grant me, from these sufferings to release thee.

Pr. So far I praise thee, and will never cease;

For zeal you nothing lack. But

Strive not; for in vain, naught helping

Me, thou 'lt strive, if aught to strive you wish.

But be thou quiet, holding thyself aloof,

For I would not, though I 'm unfortunate, that on this account

Evils should come to many. Oc. Surely not, for me too the fortunes of thy brother

Atlas grieve, who towards the evening-places

Stands, the pillar of heaven and earth

Upon his shoulders bearing, a load not easy to be borne.

And the earth-born inhabitant of the Cilician

Caves seeing, I pitied, the savage monster

With a hundred heads, by force o'ercome,

Typhon impetuous, who stood 'gainst all the gods,

With frightful jaws hissing out slaughter;

And from his eyes flashed a Gorgonian light,