 | [Poems by Wilde in] Richard Henry Wilde |  |
252
Juan Meléndez Valdés ANACREONTIC
I applied myself to science,
To be free from care and strife,
Thinking Wisdom bade defiance
To all the ills of life
Alas! what silly fancies!
I could not nurse them long;
Give me music back, and dances,
Love, friendship, wine, and song!
To be free from care and strife,
Thinking Wisdom bade defiance
To all the ills of life
Alas! what silly fancies!
I could not nurse them long;
Give me music back, and dances,
Love, friendship, wine, and song!
Has life so few vexations,
That we increase our store?
Or so many recreations,
We need not wish for more?
Fill the cup! let's drain a measure
To my own Dorilla's eyes;
Till Wisdom teaches pleasure,
'Tis no pleasure to be wise.
That we increase our store?
Or so many recreations,
We need not wish for more?
Fill the cup! let's drain a measure
To my own Dorilla's eyes;
Till Wisdom teaches pleasure,
'Tis no pleasure to be wise.
What heed I if the sun
Be a fixed star or no?
What time the planets run
Their course, why need I know?
Is the moon peopled, land and flood?
What millions may be there?
They never did us harm or good—
About them need we care?
Be a fixed star or no?
What time the planets run
Their course, why need I know?
Is the moon peopled, land and flood?
What millions may be there?
They never did us harm or good—
About them need we care?
Away with each historian!
And the chiefs whose deeds they tell;
Roman or Macedonian—
What matter where they fell?
While our sportive lambs may wander
In this green valley free,
What's Caesar, Alexander—
King or Khan, to you and me?
And the chiefs whose deeds they tell;
Roman or Macedonian—
What matter where they fell?
While our sportive lambs may wander
In this green valley free,
What's Caesar, Alexander—
King or Khan, to you and me?
The land protects our fold—
I speak the word with awe;
If it's safe, need I be told
Of the “wisdom of the law”?
The men who study, suffer
Trouble, and toil, and care;
Each mid-night taper-snuffer
Has a sad and solemn air.
I speak the word with awe;
If it's safe, need I be told
Of the “wisdom of the law”?
253
Trouble, and toil, and care;
Each mid-night taper-snuffer
Has a sad and solemn air.
What gains the sallow student?
To doubt his studies tend;
Doubt makes new studies prudent—
In doubts new studies end.
So passes life away
In jealousy and strife,
Disputing night and day—
O enviable life!
To doubt his studies tend;
Doubt makes new studies prudent—
In doubts new studies end.
So passes life away
In jealousy and strife,
Disputing night and day—
O enviable life!
Bring wine! my girl, bring wine!
With Love, and Song, and Jest,
While there are eyes like thine,
A fig for all the rest!
With Love, and Song, and Jest,
While there are eyes like thine,
A fig for all the rest!
| [Poems by Wilde in] Richard Henry Wilde | |