Ye children of man! whose life is a span, Protracted with sorrow from day to day; Naked and featherless, feeble and querulous, Sickly, calamitous creatures of clay! Attend to the words of the sovereign birds, Immortal, illustrious lords of the air, Who survey from on high, with a merciful eye, Your struggles of misery, labor, and care. Whence you may learn and clearly discern Such truths as attract your inquisitive turn-- Which is busied of late with a mighty debate, A profound speculation about the creation, And organical life and chaotical strife-- With various notions of heavenly motions, And rivers and oceans, and valleys and mountains, And sources of fountains, and meteors on high, And stars in the sky.... We propose by-and-by (If you'll listen and hear) to make it all clear. All lessons of primary daily concern You have learned from the birds (and continue to learn), Your best benefactors and early instructors. We give you the warnings of seasons returning: When the cranes are arranged, and muster afloat In the middle air, with a creaking note, Steering away to the Libyan sand, Then careful farmers sow their lands; The craggy vessel is hauled ashore; The sail, the ropes, the rudder, and oar Are all unshipped and housed in store. The shepherd is warned, by the kite re-appearing, To muster his flock and be ready for shearing. You quit your old cloak at the swallow's behest, In assurance of summer, and purchase a vest. For Delphi, for Ammon, Dodo'na--in fine, For every oracular temple and shrine-- The birds are a substitute, equal and fair; For on us you depend, and to us you repair For counsel and aid when a marriage is made-- A purchase, a bargain, or venture in trade: Unlucky or lucky, whatever has struck ye-- A voice in the street, or a slave that you meet, A name or a word by chance overheard-- If you deem it an omen you call it a bird; And if birds are your omens, it clearly will follow That birds are a proper prophetic Apollo. --Trans. by FRERE. * * * * * III. HISTORY.