在悲哀的十一月里，树叶离开了石灰，河水带着污泥和泥泥，铺满了它丑陋的沟渠，而学生们却迈着冷静而缓慢的步伐，穿过低矮的沼泽，步履蹒跚，穿着法兰绒，瑟瑟发抖。于是，在悲伤的心情中，我粗鲁地提出了一个问题:这种生活方式有什么充分的好处?日复一日地闷闷不乐，磨碎那些不“值得”的东西，直到疲惫的大脑屈服于自己的疑虑。为什么可怜的人要利用大自然赐予欢乐的岁月，徒劳地企图破坏思想和感情的自由呢?受伤的力量仍然有无尽的无望的痛苦，当最后被征服的大脑衰弱无力，无法治愈。那么，他那丰富的思想呢——霍普所设计的一切计划呢?一去不复返，像春天一样，留下慵懒的忧郁。就这样结束了他无助的日子吗，维克斯?请告诉我，智慧是怎样的?有什么办法比愚昧强呢。那些无忧无虑的人更幸福，幻想着安逸的生活，不知不觉地陷入毁灭。 Or the slave, to labour born, Heedless of the freeman?s scorn, Destined to be slowly worn Down to the brute creation. Thus a tempting spirit spoke, As from troubled sleep I woke To a morning thick with smoke, Sunless and damp and chilly. Then to sleep I turned once more, Eyes inflamed and windpipe sore, Dreaming dreams I dreamt before, Only not quite so silly. In my dream methought I strayed Where a learned-looking maid Stores of flimsy goods displayed, Articles not worth wearing. "These," she said, with solemn air, "Are the robes that sages wear, Warranted, when kept with care, Never to need repairing." Then unnumbered witlings, caught By her wiles, the trappings bought, And by labour, not by thought, Honour and fame were earning. While the men of wiser mind Passed for blind among the blind; Pedants left them far behind In the career of learning. "Those that fix their eager eyes Ever on the nearest prize Well may venture to despise Loftier aspirations. Pedantry is in demand! Buy it up at second-hand, Seek no more to understand Profitless speculations." Thus the gaudy gowns were sold, Cast off sloughs of pedants old; Proudly marched the students bold Through the domain of error, Till their trappings, false though fair, Mouldered off and left them bare, Clustering close in blank despair, Nakedness, cold, and terror. Then, I said, "These haughty Schools Boast that by their formal rules They produce more learned fools Than could be well expected. Learned fools they are indeed, Learned in the books they read; Fools whene?er they come to need Wisdom, too long neglected. "Oh! that men indeed were wise, And would raise their purblind eyes To the opening mysteries Scattered around them ever. Truth should spring from sterile ground, Beauty beam from all around, Right should then at last be found Joining what none may sever."