Beatus Ille

 

How various his employments, whom the world

Calls idle; and who justly in return

Esteems that busy world an idler too!

Friends, books, a garden, and perhaps his pen,

Delightful industry enjoy'd at home,

And Nature in her cultivated trim

Dress'd to his taste, inviting him abroad—

Can he want occupation, who has these?

Will he be idle, who has much to enjoy?

Me therefore studious of laborious ease,

Not slothful, happy to deceive the time,

Not waste it, and aware that human life

Is but a loan to be repaid with use,

When He shall call his debtors to account,

From whom are all our blessings, business finds

E'en here: while sedulous I seek to improve,

At least neglect not, or leave unemploy'd,

The mind he gave me; driving it, though slack

Too oft, and much impeded in its work 

By causes not to be divulged in vain,

To its just point—the service of mankind.

He, that attends to his interior self,

That has a heart, and keeps it, has a mind 

That hungers, and supplies it; and who seeks 

A social, not a dissipated life,

Has business; feels himself engaged to achieve

No unimportant, though a silent, task.

A life all turbulence and noise may seem

To him that leads it wise, and to be praised; 

But wisdom is a pearl with most success

Sought in still water, and beneath clear skies,

He that is ever occupied in storms, 

Or dives not for it, or brings up instead,

Vainly industrious, a disgraceful prize.

 

The morning finds the self-sequester'd man

Fresh for his task, intend what task he may. 

Whether inclement seasons recommend 

His warm but simple home, where he enjoys

With her, who shares his pleasures and his heart,

Sweet converse, sipping calm the fragant lymph,

Which neatly she prepares; then to his book

Well chosen, and not sullenly perused

In selfish silence, but imparted oft,

As aught occurs, that she may smile to hear,

Or turn to nourishment, digested well.

 

 

(William Cowper, The Task - "The Garden")

 

—Mira un pasaje sobre la lectura—¿quieres oírlo?

—No, que prefiero un poco de silencio.

 

—oOo—