Immortal fame to mortal men, the Muses nine do give: But dead men's wealth is spent and quite consumed of them that live. But all one pain[s] it is, to number waves upon the banks, Whereof great store, the wind from sea doth blow to land in ranks; Or for to wash a brick with water clear till it be white: As for to move a man whom avarice doth once delight. Therefore "Adieu!" to such a one for me! and let him have Huge silver heaps at will, and more and more still let him crave! But I, Goodwill of Men, and Honour, will prefer before A many mules of price, or many horses kept in store. Therefore I ask, To whom shall I be welcome with my train Of Muses nine? whose ways are hard, if JOVE guides not the rein. The heavens yet have not left to roll both months and years on reels; And many horses yet shall turn about the Chariot's wheels: The man shall rise that shall have need of me to set him out; Doing such deeds of arms as AJAX, or ACHILLES stout, Did in the field of Simois, where ILUS' bones do rest And now the Carthaginians, inhabiting the West, Who in the utmost end of Liby' dwell, in arms are prest: And now the Syracuseans their spears do carry in the rest; Whose left arms laden are with targets made of willow tree. 'Mongst whom King HIERO, the ancient Worthies' match, I see In armour shine; whose plume doth overshade his helmet bright. O JUPITER, and thou MINERVA fierce in fight, And thou PROSERPINA (who, with thy mother, has renown By Lysimelia streams, in Ephyra that wealthy town), Out of our island drive our enemies, our bitter fate, Along the Sardine sea! that death of friends they may relate Unto their children and their wives! and that the town opprest By enemies, of th' old inhabitants may be possesst! That they may till the fields! and sheep upon the downs may bleat By thousands infinite, and fat! and that the herds of neat As to their stalls they go, may press the ling'ring traveller! Let grounds be broken up for seed, what time the grasshopper Watching the shepherds by their flocks, in boughs close singing lies! And let the spiders spread their slender webs in armories; So that of War, the very name may not be heard again!