He may live without books,what is knowledge but grieving? He may live without hopewhat is hope but deceiving? He may live without love,what is passion but pining? But where is the man that can live without dining?
The man who seeks one thing in life and but one May hope to achieve it before life is done; But he who seeks all things, wherever he goes Only reaps from the hopes which around him he sows A harvest of barren regrets.
Let any man show the world that he feels Afraid of its bark and t will fly at his heels: Let him fearlessly face it, t will leave him alone: But t will fawn at his feet if he flings it a bone.
Oh, moment of sweet peril, perilous sweet! When woman joins herself to man.
The Wanderer. Prologue. Stanza 1.
Note 1. Eyes so transparent that through them the soul is seen. (Ils sont si transparents quils laissent voir votre âme.) Theophile Gautier: The Two Beautiful Eyes. [back]