Bodleian quatrain nr. 58
Cadell 1899 - 78
The matter which this earth of ours contains
Disturbs the wise man's proud omniscience.
Hold to - tight if you can - the rope of sense,
For we have teachers with bewildered brains.
Grolleau 1902 - 58
Les corps qui peuplent cette voûte du ciel
Déconcertent ceux qui pensent.
Prends garde de perdre le bout du fil de la sagesse,
Car les guides eux-mêmes ont le vertige.
Heron-Allen 1898 - 58
The bodies which people this heavenly vault,
puzzled the learned.
Beware lest thou losest the end of the string of wisdom,
for even the controllers themselves become giddy.
De Marthold 1910 - 58
Les corps peuplant ta voûte, ô ciel, brillant prodige,
Déconcertent ceux-là que le savoir dirige.
Le fil de la sagesse est aisément perdu,
Les guides ont parfois eux-mêmes le vertige.
Payne 1898 - 274
What things in these colours of earth and of skies are
Indwelling, enigmas in prudent men's eyes are:
Look thou lose not the end of the clew of discretion,
For head still a-whirl with this puzzle the wise are.
Von der Porten 1927 - 58
Die Körper, die wir sehn im himmlischen Palast,
Sind Rätsel, die zu lösen glaubt nur ein Phantast.
Gib acht! Laß dir des Wissens Seile nicht ent intgleiten,
Denn selbst die Lenker manches Mal ein Schwindel faßt.
Roe 1906 - 112
Those countless orbs that roll o'er Heaven's main,
Perplex the learn'd, their myst'ries still remain;
Oh, seek not whence they come, or whither bound,
The wise grow dizzy 'neath their mighty train.
Rosen 1928 - 91
The stars that are the inmates of this vault
Are a puzzle to the wise.
Beware, lose not the thread of your reason,
For those who are the most enlightened have become giddy.
Talbot 1908 - 58
The circling planets, that in space abound,
The brains of our most learnèd ones confound;
Hold fast the Cord, for they that make thee spin,
Themselves with giddiness will turn around!
Thompson 1906 - 262
The stars that are the dwellers of these skies,
Occasion much conjecture to the wise,
See you lose not the end of Wisdom's thread.
For those who rule are dizzied with surmise.
Tirtha 1941 - VII.139
The germs which in this mansion do abide
Have cast the wise men thinking far and wide;
Beware! you do not lose your clue of wit,
Foe doctors go on reeling every side.
Whinfield 1883 - 214
The stars, who dwell on heaven's exalted stage,
Baffle the wise diviners of our age;
Take heed, hold fast the rope of mother wit
These augurs all distrust their own presage.
- WHINFIELD 1882 - 120