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Venetian Epigram 4: Why are the people thus busily moving? For food they are seeking
Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring (1853) · From Venetian Epigrams
WHY are the people thus busily moving? For food they are seeking,
Children they fain would beget, feeding them well as they can.
Traveller, mark this well, and when thou art home, do thou likewise!
More can no mortal effect, work with what ardour he will.
Cite this poem
MLA
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von. “Venetian Epigram 4: Why are the people thus busily moving? For food they are seeking.” Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/goethe/304/.
Chicago
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von. “Venetian Epigram 4: Why are the people thus busily moving? For food they are seeking.” Translated by Edgar Alfred Bowring. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/goethe/304/.
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