Sunday, April 28, 2013
Sepulcri Inmemor Struis Domos
Charles Mackay (1812-1889), "The Two Houses":
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I.Lucian, Charon 17 (tr. H.W. Fowler and F.G. Fowler):
"'Twill overtask a thousand men,
With all their strength and skill,
To build my lord ere New Year's eve
His castle on the hill."
"Then take two thousand," said my lord,
"And labour with a will."
II.
They wrought, these glad two thousand men,
But long ere winter gloom,
My lord had found a smaller house,
And dwelt in one dark room:
And one man built it in one day,
While the bells rang ding, dong, boom!
Shut up the door! shut up the door!
Shut up the door till Doom!
Yonder is a man building his house, urging the workmen to use all dispatch. How would he take the news, that he was just to see the roof on and all complete, when he would have to take his departure, and leave all the enjoyment to his heir?—hard fate, not once to sup beneath it!
