His moans we expect not. Pain’s not what he fears.
The reason this, why the Lord’s blest scripture says:
“Each day He’s engaged in some one of His ways.”[235]
Therefore thou, my dear son, thyself still exert
Until thy last breath. Seek not toil to avert.
Then, at the last moment, the time may have come,
When favor ’ll be shown thee for all thou hast done.280
How much, and how long, strives the soul of each man,
The king’s at the window;—hear, see all, he can.
Our merchant the parrot cast out from his cage.