"Old things need not be therefore true," O brother men, nor yet the new; Ah! still awhile the old thought retain, And yet consider it again! The souls of now two thousand years Have laid up here their toils and tears, And all the earnings of their pain, -- Ah, yet consider it again! We! what do we see? each a space Of some few yards before his face; Does that the whole wide plan explain? Ah, yet consider it again! Alas! the great world goes its way, And takes its truth from each new day; They do not quit, nor can retain, Far less consider it again. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AD LESBIAM by GAIUS VALERIUS CATULLUS A SONG FROM THE COPTIC by JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE WHO WALKS WITH BEAUTY by DAVID MORTON LAODAMIA by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH IN BATTLE by ABUL HASAN OF BADAJOZ A SONNET. ON THE DEATH OF SYLVIA by PHILIP AYRES |