The Joyful Wisdom 4

The Joyful Wisdom 4

Encouragement for Beginners._

 

See the infant, helpless creeping—

Swine around it grunt swine-talk—

Weeping always, naught but weeping,

Will it ever learn to walk?

Never fear! Just wait, I swear it

Soon to dance will be inclined,

And this babe, when two legs bear it,

Standing on its head you'll find.

 

 

29.

 

_Planet Egoism._

 

Did I not turn, a rolling cask,

Ever about myself, I ask,

How could I without burning run

Close on the track of the hot sun?

 

 

30.

 

_The Neighbour._

 

Too nigh, my friend my joy doth mar,

I'd have him high above and far,

Or how can he become my star?

 

 

31.

 

_The Disguised Saint._

 

Lest we for thy bliss should slay thee,

In devil's wiles thou dost array thee,

Devil's wit and devil's dress.

But in vain! Thy looks betray thee

And proclaim thy holiness.

 

 

32.

 

_The Slave._

 

_A._ He stands and listens: whence his pain?

What smote his ears? Some far refrain?

Why is his heart with anguish torn?

_B._ Like all that fetters once have worn,

He always hears the clinking—chain!

 

 

33.

 

_The Lone One._

 

I hate to follow and I hate to lead.

Obedience? no! and ruling? no, indeed!

Wouldst fearful be in others' sight?

Then e'en _thyself_ thou must affright:

The people but the Terror's guidance heed.

I hate to guide myself, I hate the fray.

Like the wild beasts I'll wander far afield.

In Error's pleasing toils I'll roam

Awhile, then lure myself back home,

Back home, and—to my self-seduction yield.

 

 

34.

 

_Seneca et hoc Genus omne._

 

They write and write (quite maddening me)

Their "sapient" twaddle airy,

As if 'twere _primum scribere,

Deinde philosophari_.

 

 

35.

 

_Ice._

 

Yes! I manufacture ice:

Ice may help you to digest:

If you _had_ much to digest,

How you would enjoy my ice!

 

 

36.

 

_Youthful Writings._

 

My wisdom's A and final O

Was then the sound that smote mine ear.

Yet now it rings no longer so,

My youth's eternal Ah! and Oh!

Is now the only sound I hear.[4]

 

 

37.

 

_Foresight._

 

In yonder region travelling, take good care!

An hast thou wit, then be thou doubly ware!

They'll smile and lure thee; then thy limbs they'll tear:

Fanatics' country this where wits are rare!

 

 

38.

 

_The Pious One Speaks._

 

God loves us, _for_ he made us, sent us here!—

"Man hath made God!" ye subtle ones reply.

His handiwork he must hold dear,

And _what he made_ shall he deny?

There sounds the devil's halting hoof, I fear.

 

 

39.

 

_In Summer._

 

In sweat of face, so runs the screed,

We e'er must eat our bread,

Yet wise physicians if we heed

"Eat naught in sweat," 'tis said.

The dog-star's blinking: what's his need?

What tells his blazing sign?

In sweat of face (so runs _his_ screed)

We're meant to drink our wine!

 

 

40.

 

_Without Envy._

 

His look bewrays no envy: and ye laud him?

He cares not, asks not if your throng applaud him!

He has the eagle's eye for distance far,

He sees you not, he sees but star on star!

 

 

41.

 

_Heraclitism._

 

Brethren, war's the origin

Of happiness on earth:

Powder-smoke and battle-din

Witness friendship's birth!

Friendship means three things, you know,—

Kinship in luckless plight,

Equality before the foe

Freedom—in death's sight!

 

 

42.

 

_Maxim of the Over-refined._

 

"Rather on your toes stand high

Than crawl upon all fours,

Rather through the keyhole spy

Than through open doors!"

 

 

43.

 

_Exhortation._

 

Renown you're quite resolved to earn?

My thought about it

Is this: you need not fame, must learn

To do without it!

 

 

44.