Collected Works (Vol. II)

94 THE ARGONAUTS ARGUS. I stand with brows abashed. Thou art the master—build the ship thyself. JASON. Nay, but my knowledge is of mind alone. I cannot so apply it as to build An Argo. ARGUS. Yet I verily believe Such mind must pierce far deeper than these names, Seeking the very nature of the things Thou namest thus so pat. Perchance to thee These logs, nails, bolts, tools, have some life of sense, Some subtle language. say !1 Tell us what they THESEUS. Tis but a giber—leave the churl alone. JASON. Indeed I spake of things I knew not of. ARGUS. You speak more wisely when you float away Into pure dream, and talk of mystic things That no man born of woman understands, And therefore does not dare to contradict. JASON. He who speaks much and bitterly at last Lays himself open to retort. I think I never heard such contradictions fly As when men talk of gods—that never were ! ARGUS. Thou wouldst do better to leave men alone. The wisest talk is folly when work waits. Look ! how these sturdy villains gape around, Fling down their task, and hang upon the words That flow like nectar from your majesty. 1 The gibe in these twenty lines is against Rudyard Kipling’s silly vitalisation of machinery, and his ignorance even of the correct terms, CASTOR. In truth, my friend, if you would wear your crown This side of Orcus, you should go away. POLLUX. Ay! let the men work! Fora mind as yours Is good, and skill as theirs is also good. CASTOR. But mix the manual and the mental—well, No ship was built by pure philosophy. POLLUX. Nor yet designed by artisans. JASON. Enough ! Come, great Alcides, it is time to go. ARGUS. A fool allows a moment’s irritation To move the purpose of a thousand years. Go, go! HERACLES. Remember! We are met this day To call upon the name with praise and prayer Of great Athena, since our ship is built With sculptured olive pregnant in the prow, And all the length of pine is coiled and curled With the swift serpent’s beauty, and the owl Sits in huge state upon the midmost bench. Thus, therefore, by the manifest design, Joining the wisdom to the power and will, We build the Argo. ARGUS. What a heavy club Wecarry ! And how well becomes our figure The lion’s skin ! HERACLES. Be still, thou art an ass!