LXXIII.

With Earth's first Clay They did the Last Man knead, And there of the Last Harvest sow'd the Seed: And the first Morning of Creation wrote What the Last Dawn of Reckoning shall read.

In this quatrain we trace the influence of O. 31 (quoted in the parallel to quatrain No. 71, _ante_) and of O. 95.

Oh, heart! since, in this world, truth itself is hyperbole, Why art thou so disquieted with this trouble and abasement? Resign thy body to destiny and adapt thyself to the times, For, what the Pen has written, it will not re-write for thy sake.[76]

_Ref._: O. 95, L. 430, B. 426, S.P. 215, P. 59, B. ii. 292.--W. 257, N. 216, E.C. 15, V. 468.

LXXIV.*

YESTERDAY _This_ Day's Madness did prepare; TO-MORROW'S Silence, Triumph, or Despair: Drink! for you know not whence you came, nor why Drink! for you know not why you go, nor where.

The first half of this quatrain comes from O. 152 and the second half from O. 26, ll. 3 and 4.

Be happy! they settled thy business yesterday, And beyond the reach of all thy longings is yesterday,

Live happily, for without any importunity on thy part yesterday, They appointed with certainty what thou wilt do to-morrow--yesterday!

_Ref._: O. 152, C. 473, L. 702, B. ii. 564, P. v. 196.--W. 489, V. 754.

Be happy!--thou knowest not whence thou hast come: Drink wine!--thou knowest not whither thou shalt go.

_Ref._: O. 26, C. 83, L. 192, B. 189, S.P. 85, B. ii. 110, T. 64, P. v. 34.--W 87, N. 85, V. 188.