AN EPODE.
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm, Levy, Oscar, and Zimmern, Helen
AMONG FRIENDS.
(Translated by T. COMMON.)
Nice, when mute we lie a-dreaming, Nicer still when we are laughing, 'Neath the sky heaven's chariot speeding, On the moss the book a-reading, Sweetly loud with friends all laughing Joyous, with white teeth a-gleaming. Do I well, we're mute and humble; Do I ill—we'll laugh exceeding; Make it worse and worse, unheeding, Worse proceeding, more laughs needing, Till into the grave we stumble. Friends! Yea! so shall it obtain? Amen! Till we meet again. II. No excuses need be started! Give, ye glad ones, open hearted, To this foolish book before you Ear and heart and lodging meet; Trust me, 'twas not meant to bore you, Though of folly I may treat! What I find, seek, and am needing, Was it e'er in book for reading? Honour now fools in my name, Learn from out this book by reading How "our sense" from reason came. Thus, my friends, shall it obtain? Amen! Till we meet again.