Two whole years spent in that experiment

I told you of, at Clairvaux all the time,

From April on to April: why that month

More than another, notable in life?

Does the awakening of the year arouse

Man to new projects, nerve him for fresh feats

Of what proves, for the most part of mankind

Playing or working, novel folly too?

At any rate, I see no slightest sign

Of folly (let me tell you in advance),