 | The collected works of Ambrose Bierce |  |
THE HERMIT
To a hunter from the city,
Overtaken by the night,
Spake, in tones of tender pity
For himself, an aged wight:
Overtaken by the night,
Spake, in tones of tender pity
For himself, an aged wight:
“I have found the world a fountain
Of deceit and Life a sham.
I have taken to the mountain
And a Holy Hermit am.
Of deceit and Life a sham.
I have taken to the mountain
And a Holy Hermit am.
“Sternly bent on Contemplation,
Far apart from human kind—
In the hill my habitation,
In the Infinite my mind.
Far apart from human kind—
In the hill my habitation,
In the Infinite my mind.
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“Ten long years I've lived a dumb thing,
Growing bald and bent with dole,
Vainly seeking for a Something
To engage my gloomy soul.
Growing bald and bent with dole,
Vainly seeking for a Something
To engage my gloomy soul.
“Gentle Pilgrim, while my roots you
Eat, and quaff my simple drink,
Please suggest whatever suits you
As a Theme for me to Think.”
Eat, and quaff my simple drink,
Please suggest whatever suits you
As a Theme for me to Think.”
Then the hunter answered gravely:
“From distraction free, and strife,
You could ponder very bravely
On the Vanity of Life.”
“From distraction free, and strife,
You could ponder very bravely
On the Vanity of Life.”
“O, thou wise and learned Teacher,
You have solved the Problem well—
You have saved a grateful creature
From the agonies of Hell!
You have solved the Problem well—
You have saved a grateful creature
From the agonies of Hell!
“Take another root, another
Cup of water: eat and drink.
Now I have a Subject, brother,
Tell me what, and how, to think.”
Cup of water: eat and drink.
Now I have a Subject, brother,
Tell me what, and how, to think.”
| The collected works of Ambrose Bierce | |