Note 289 — Chapter VI · [263]
Reading edition
“Io tocaré cantando El músico instrumento sonoroso, Tú de flores gozando Danza, y festeja á Dios que es poderoso; O gozemos de esta gloria, Porque la humana vida es transitoria.” MS. de Ixtlilxochitl.
The sentiment, which is common enough, is expressed with uncommon beauty by the English poet Herrick:
“Gather the rosebuds while you may; Old Time is still a-flying; The fairest flower that blooms to-day To-morrow may be dying.”
And with still greater beauty, perhaps, by Racine:
“Rions, chantons, dit cette troupe impie, De fleurs en fleurs, de plaisirs en plaisirs, Promenons nos désirs. Sur l’avenir insensé qui se fie. De nos ans passagers le nombre est incertain. Hâtons-nous aujourd’hui de jouir de la vie; Qui sait si nous serons demain?” Athalie, Acte 2.
It is interesting to see under what different forms the same sentiment is developed by different races and in different languages. It is an Epicurean sentiment, indeed, but its universality proves its truth to nature.