You Say, Columbus with his Argosies

You say, Columbus with his argosies

Who rash and greedy took the screaming main

And vanished out before the hurricane

Into the sunset after merchandise,

Then under western palms with simple eyes

Trafficked and robbed and triumphed home again:

You say this is the glory of the brain

And human life no other use than this?

I then do answering say to you: The line

Of wizards and of saviours, keeping trust

In that which made them pensive and divine,

Passes before us like a cloud of dust.

What were they? Actors, ill and mad with wine,

And all their language babble and disgust.