354 CONSOLATIONS OF SOLITUDE
" Now tell me, stranger, in what land,
Ne'er trod by traveller's foot, thou dwellest ?
That in these days wouldst seek the band Of those lost maids of whom thou tellest ?
They, and the horse, for aught I know,
Were dead three thousand years ago.
��" But scarce a hundred thousand horses. Though saddled all through night and day,
Could carry the unnumbered forces That daily up this hillside stray
To notch their names upon the stair
Of the old ruined Temple there."
" Good man, I, too, have come full far. Humbly Apollo's grace to claim.
But not his sacred stones to mar
Bv carving there my worthless name.
Yet, now, I pray thee, briefly say
How I may mount the easiest way."
" If thou art rich, some brother drudge Will gladly stoop to be thy hack ;
If poor, bear others, for I judge
Thy brains will scarcely break thy back.
We hope to have a railroad soon.
That calves may reach their native moon.
" Ofttimes a dozen, halt or lamed, 3- Some of left legs, and some of right,
Go up, a chain-gang brisk, though maimed, And thus the journey grows more light;
For each, well dovetailed to his brothers.
With his one leg helps all the others.
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