ULYSSES. IT little profits that an idle king, By this still hearth, among these barren crags, That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me. I cannot rest from travel: I will drink Life to the lees: all times I have enjoy'd Greatly, have suffer'd greatly, both with those That loved me, and alone; on shore, and when Vext the dim sea: I am become a name; For always roaming with a hungry heart Much have I seen and known; cities of men Myself not least, but honour'd of them all; I am a part of all that I have met; Yet all experience is an arch wherethro' Gleams that untravell'd world, whose margin fades For ever and for ever when I move. How dull it is to pause, to make an end, To rust unburnish'd, not to shine in use! As tho' to breathe were life. Life piled on life To follow knowledge like a sinking star, This is my son, mine own Telemachus, This labour, by slow prudence to make mild Most blameless is he, centred in the sphere When I am gone. He works his work, I mine. There lies the port: the vessel puffs her sail : There gloom the dark broad seas. My mariners, Souls that have toil'd, and wrought, and thought with me That ever with a frolic welcome took The thunder and the sunshine, and opposed The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs: the deep 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world. Push off, and sitting well in order smite The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds Of all the western stars, until I die. Most blameless is he, centred in the sphere In offices of tenderness, and pay Meet adoration to my household gods, When I am gone. He works his work, I mine. There lies the port: the vessel puffs her sail : There gloom the dark broad seas. My mariners, Souls that have toil'd, and wrought, and thought with me That ever with a frolic welcome took The thunder and the sunshine, and opposed Free hearts, free foreheads-you and I are old; |