And now larger than ever lies the curse
On this our time; and all that went before
Keeps altering its face from bad to worse;
And each of us has felt the touch of war --
War after war, and exile, dangers, fear --
And each of us is weary to the core
Of seeing his own blood along a spear
And being alive because it missed its aim.
Some folks have lost their goods and all their gear,
And everything is gone, even the name
Of house and home and wife and memory.
And what's the use of it? A little fame?
The nation's thanks? A place in history?
One day they'll write a book, and then we'll see.
Garcilaso de la Vega, 1503-1535
translated by JB Trend (The Civilization of Spain, Oxford, 1952)
--
Alexander Anderson
mailto : speeski at alma-services dot abel dot co dot uk
bud-nav : http://www.explosive-alma-services-bolts.abel.co.uk/
Where there is no vision, the people perish.
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