Shall I write my life without dissimulation,—

A book for guidance and imitation?

Or, stay——! I have plenty of time at command;—

What if, as a travelling scientist,

I should study past ages and time’s voracity?

Ay, sure enough, that is the thing for me!

Legends I read e’en in childhood’s days,

And since then I’ve kept up that branch of learning.—

I will follow the path of the human race!

Like a feather I’ll float on the stream of history