 | The last words of Cleanthes |  |
I
‘O Zeus! I bless thee for the life thou gavest,So full of bodily strength, and health, and years;
I bless thee for the mind that hath no fears
Of death, whereby our atoms thou still savest,
Till some fine consciousness again appears.
II
‘O Zeus! I have doubted further gifts of Gods—Doubted futurity for each special mind;
The soul, like music, dying on the wind;
The body merging in earth's sands and sods;—
But to thy Ruling evermore resigned.
III
‘O Zeus! no claim have we to aught beyond!We bless thee for the life we have enjoyed;
We hope our spirit shall not be destroyed:
Thy waters to my dying Hymn respond
In harmonies that change, ere rapture-cloyed
8
IV
‘O Zeus! I hear the broad waves gently flowingOver my feet, and nestling round my knees!
My senses melt away by soft degrees!
My thoughts, like seeds, thy hand afar is sowing!
Sweet songs are in my brain—sweet birds in trees!
V
‘O Zeus! at all-devouring Time I smile;For he is but Heaven's little playful son,
Toying, or teasing, while we graveward run:
Flow then, ye waves!—our mingling sands beguile!
Flow on, divine Maternity, flow on!’
| The last words of Cleanthes | |