Page:Queen Mab (Shelley).djvu/108

V. Page 44.

The mob of peasants, nobles, priests, and kings.

Suave mari magno turbantibus æquora ventis
E terrâ magnum atterius spectare laborem;
Non quia vexari quemquam 'st jucunda voluptas,
Sed quibus ipse malis careas quia cernere suave 'st.
Suave etiam belli certamina magna tueri,
Per campos instructa, tua sine parte pericli;
Sed nil dulcius est bene quam munita tenere
Edita doctrina sapientum templa serena;
Despicere unde queas alios, passim que videre
Errare atque viam palanteis quærere vitæ;
Certare ingenio; contendere nobilitate;
Nocteis atque dies niti præstante labore
Ad summas emergere opes, rerum que potiri.
O miseras hominum menteis! O pectora cæca^[1]!
Luc. lib. ii.

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1. When the wide ocean maddening whirlwinds sweep,
   And heave the billows of the boiling deep,
   Pleased we from land the reeling bark survey,
   And rolling mountains of the watery way.
   Not that we joy another's woes to see,
   But to reflect that we ourselves are free.
   So, the dread battle ranged in distant fields,
   Ourselves secure, a secret pleasure yields.
   But what more charming than to gain the height
   Of true philosophy? What pure delight
   From Wisdom's citadel to view below,
   Deluded mortals, as they wandering go
   In quest of happiness! ah, blindly weak!
   For fame, for vain nobility they seek;