登陆注册
15687200000031

第31章 BOOK III(10)

Then to be always feeding an ingrate mind, Filling with good things, satisfying never-As do the seasons of the year for us, When they return and bring their progenies And varied charms, and we are never filled With the fruits of life- O this, I fancy, 'tis To pour, like those young virgins in the tale, Waters into a sieve, unfilled forever.

. . . . . .

Cerberus and Furies, and that Lack of Light . . . . . .

Tartarus, out-belching from his mouth the surge Of horrible heat- the which are nowhere, nor Indeed can be: but in this life is fear Of retributions just and expiations For evil acts: the dungeon and the leap From that dread rock of infamy, the stripes, The executioners, the oaken rack, The iron plates, bitumen, and the torch.

And even though these are absent, yet the mind, With a fore-fearing conscience, plies its goads And burns beneath the lash, nor sees meanwhile What terminus of ills, what end of pine Can ever be, and feareth lest the same But grow more heavy after death. Of truth, The life of fools is Acheron on earth.

This also to thy very self sometimes Repeat thou mayst: "Lo, even good Ancus left The sunshine with his eyes, in divers things A better man than thou, O worthless hind;And many other kings and lords of rule Thereafter have gone under, once who swayed O'er mighty peoples. And he also, he-Who whilom paved a highway down the sea, And gave his legionaries thoroughfare Along the deep, and taught them how to cross The pools of brine afoot, and did contemn, Trampling upon it with his cavalry, The bellowings of ocean- poured his soul From dying body, as his light was ta'en.

And Scipio's son, the thunderbolt of war, Horror of Carthage, gave his bones to earth, Like to the lowliest villein in the house.

Add finders-out of sciences and arts;

Add comrades of the Heliconian dames, Among whom Homer, sceptered o'er them all, Now lies in slumber sunken with the rest.

Then, too, Democritus, when ripened eld Admonished him his memory waned away, Of own accord offered his head to death.

Even Epicurus went, his light of life Run out, the man in genius who o'er-topped The human race, extinguishing all others, As sun, in ether arisen, all the stars.

Wilt thou, then, dally, thou complain to go?-For whom already life's as good as dead, Whilst yet thou livest and lookest?- who in sleep Wastest thy life- time's major part, and snorest Even when awake, and ceasest not to see The stuff of dreams, and bearest a mind beset By baseless terror, nor discoverest oft What's wrong with thee, when, like a sotted wretch, Thou'rt jostled along by many crowding cares, And wanderest reeling round, with mind aswim."If men, in that same way as on the mind They feel the load that wearies with its weight, Could also know the causes whence it comes, And why so great the heap of ill on heart, O not in this sort would they live their life, As now so much we see them, knowing not What 'tis they want, and seeking ever and ever A change of place, as if to drop the burden.

The man who sickens of his home goes out, Forth from his splendid halls, and straight- returns, Feeling i'faith no better off abroad.

He races, driving his Gallic ponies along, Down to his villa, madly,- as in haste To hurry help to a house afire.- At once He yawns, as soon as foot has touched the threshold, Or drowsily goes off in sleep and seeks Forgetfulness, or maybe bustles about And makes for town again. In such a way Each human flees himself- a self in sooth, As happens, he by no means can escape;And willy-nilly he cleaves to it and loathes, Sick, sick, and guessing not the cause of ail.

Yet should he see but that, O chiefly then, Leaving all else, he'd study to divine The nature of things, since here is in debate Eternal time and not the single hour, Mortal's estate in whatsoever remains After great death.

And too, when all is said, What evil lust of life is this so great Subdues us to live, so dreadfully distraught In perils and alarms? one fixed end Of life abideth for mortality;Death's not to shun, and we must go to meet.

Besides we're busied with the same devices, Ever and ever, and we are at them ever, And there's no new delight that may be forged By living on. But whilst the thing we long for Is lacking, that seems good above all else;Thereafter, when we've touched it, something else We long for; ever one equal thirst of life Grips us agape. And doubtful 'tis what fortune The future times may carry, or what be That chance may bring, or what the issue next Awaiting us. Nor by prolonging life Take we the least away from death's own time, Nor can we pluck one moment off, whereby To minish the aeons of our state of death.

Therefore, O man, by living on, fulfil As many generations as thou may:

Eternal death shall there be waiting still;And he who died with light of yesterday Shall be no briefer time in death's No-more Than he who perished months or years before.

同类推荐
  • 西湖小史

    西湖小史

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 上清僊府琼林经

    上清僊府琼林经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 途中口号

    途中口号

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • MARY BARTON

    MARY BARTON

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 经效产宝

    经效产宝

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 魔域降世

    魔域降世

    由一个纠缠我八年梦引发的一个天坑······校园看似宁静的氛围一朝被打破。而引发这一切的仅仅是一款手机游戏?且看众人如何逃离这降世的魔域······
  • 天选法师录

    天选法师录

    一個學渣對人生沒什麼希望的時後意外進入魔法學院成為一個最逆天的法師
  • 烟花盛开之季

    烟花盛开之季

    你突然一觉醒来,发现自己正在课堂上,窗外是熟悉的操场,学弟一个转身完美扣篮,讲台上“灭绝师太”正滔滔不绝地讲着公式规律,桌面上是你还空着两题的题海练习册,你扭头对着整天与你斗嘴关键时刻却总能把作业借给你抄的同桌说:“我做了一个好长好长的梦。”同桌答:“你傻啦,好好听课。"似乎一切都是虚幻的梦,但是那么地真实。天才少女与天才少年与元气少女的花季时光是平平淡淡,还是火光四射?
  • 杰鲁特大人

    杰鲁特大人

    世界之王奥罗夫遗留下一批宝藏,吸引着众多继承者前去争夺,杰鲁特一心想要成为世界之王,从而在探险的路上认识了许多有趣的朋友,并且一起经历了难以忘却的故事
  • 尘染流离错

    尘染流离错

    他的温柔体贴使她初心萌动,他的霸道痴心守候也让她失措沦陷。她,都市小白一枚,没有宏伟的壮志,没有难解的心思。只愿,风雨过后,一颗初心依旧。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 狂妃快到本王怀里来

    狂妃快到本王怀里来

    凤倾颜,21世纪的杀手之神!卧槽,太坑爹了,竟然穿越成了一个伪世子!还是一个生活苦逼的伪世子!每天不仅得提防着家里人,到外头还得被刺杀?靠—老子不干了!可每当想到自家爷爷的时候,她一捏拳头——我忍!但是当刺杀她的人都快排出整个落雁城的时候,她——疯了!妈的,老子受不了了,老子要出去把那个杀她的混蛋给宰了!而这时候,君无绝,云翎国的晋王殿下!轻轻地揽过她,抱着她柔软的身子,散漫地道:不要动气,那人不日之后就将归鹤西去。她盯着他,自是相信这货的实力很是牛逼,但是..她额头上青筋暴起:泥煤,不要抱着爷!爷可是男人!男人!他伏在她身上,一贯懒漫的声线轻轻地掠过她的耳垂:不论你是男是女,我都..要定了!
  • 某死宅变身狂三后的异世界生活

    某死宅变身狂三后的异世界生活

    一觉醒来发现自己穿越了,穿越到一个二次元世界,但这都不重要,重要的是为什么我变成时崎狂三了啊!!!(开学了随缘更新)
  • 磨骨神通

    磨骨神通

    好看的小说,绝对不一样的小说,看看看,,,,,,,
  • 星河创世纪

    星河创世纪

    这是一个虚拟游戏的世界,这是一个赌上全部的竞技。我将亲手,开拓我的梦想。我将亲手,埋葬前路敌人。