Things stand apart so far and differ, that What's food for one is poison for another.

It is pleasant, when the sea is high and the winds are dashing the waves about, to watch from the shores the struggles of another.

And part of the soil is called to wash away In storms and streams shave close and gnaw the rocks. Besides, whatever the earth feeds and grows Is restored to earth. And since she surely is The womb of all things and their common grave, Earth must dwindle, you see and take on growth again.

You alone govern the nature of things. Without you nothing emerges into the light of day, without you nothing is joyous or lovely.

Globed from the atoms falling slow or swift I see the suns, I see the systems lift Their forms; and even the systems and the suns Shall go back slowly to the eternal drift.

Forbear to spew out reason from your mind, but rather ponder everything with keen judgment; and if it seems true, own yourself vanquished, but, if it is false, gird up your loins to fight.

There is so much wrong with the world. (tanta stat praedita culpa)