Canto III.]
Orion.
125
Who didst derive from thy long-living sire
More knowledge than endows far better sons,—
Thy lamp to burn within, and turn aside
Thy face from all humanity, or behold it
Without emotion, like some sea-shelled thing
Staring around from a green hollowed rock,
Not aiding, loving, caring—hoping aught—
Forgetting nature, and by her forgot."
More knowledge than endows far better sons,—
Thy lamp to burn within, and turn aside
Thy face from all humanity, or behold it
Without emotion, like some sea-shelled thing
Staring around from a green hollowed rock,
Not aiding, loving, caring—hoping aught—
Forgetting nature, and by her forgot."
Whereto, with mildness, Akinetos said,
"Hast thou considered of Eternity?"
"Profoundly have I done so, in my youth;"
Chronos replied, and bowed his furrowed head;
"Most, when my tender feet from Chaos trod
Stumbling, and doubtful of mine eyes, my hands
The dazzling air explored. But, since that date,
So many ages have I told; so many,
Fleet after fleet on newly opening seas,
Descry before me, that of late my thoughts
Have rather dwelt on all around my path,
With anxious care. Well were it thus with thee."
"Hast thou considered of Eternity?"
"Profoundly have I done so, in my youth;"
Chronos replied, and bowed his furrowed head;
"Most, when my tender feet from Chaos trod
Stumbling, and doubtful of mine eyes, my hands
The dazzling air explored. But, since that date,
So many ages have I told; so many,
Fleet after fleet on newly opening seas,
Descry before me, that of late my thoughts
Have rather dwelt on all around my path,
With anxious care. Well were it thus with thee."
Then Akinetos calmly spake once more,
With eyes still bent upon the tide-ribbed sands.
With eyes still bent upon the tide-ribbed sands.
