Page:Writings of Henry David Thoreau (1906) v5.djvu/396

354 Pr. Hearing the rest from me more will you wonder

What arts and what expedients I planned.

That which was greatest, if any might fall sick,

There was alleviation none, neither to eat,

Nor to anoint, nor drink, but for the want

Of medicines they were reduced to skeletons, till to them

I showed the mingling of mild remedies,

By which all ails they drive away.

And many modes of prophecy I settled,

And distinguished first of dreams what a real

Vision is required to be, and omens hard to be determined

I made known to them; and tokens by the way,

And flight of crooked-taloned birds I accurately

Defined, which lucky are,

And unlucky, and what mode of life

Have each, and to one another what

Hostilities, attachments, and assemblings;

The entrails' smoothness, and what color having

They would be to the divinities acceptable;

Of the gall and liver the various symmetry,

And the limbs concealed in fat; and the long

Flank burning, to an art hard to be guessed

I showed the way to mortals; and flammeous signs

Explained, before obscure.

Such indeed these; and under ground

Concealed the helps to men;

Brass, iron, silver, gold, who

Would affirm that he discovered before me?

None, I well know, not wishing in vain to boast.