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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


LONE FOUNTS by HERMAN MELVILLE

Poet Analysis

First Line: THOUGH FAST YOUTH'S GLORIOUS FABLE FLIES
Last Line: WISE ONCE, AND WISE THENCE EVERMORE.

Though fast youth's glorious fable flies,
View not the world with worldling's eyes;
Nor turn with weather of the time.
Foreclose the coming of surprise:
Stand where Posterity shall stand;
Stand where the Ancients stood before,
And, dipping in lone founts thy hand,
Drink of the never-varying lore:
Wise once, and wise thence evermore.



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