Living

De Rerum Natura V: The Newborn Child (Dryden)

by Lucretius c. 99 – c. 55 BC

Translated by John Dryden (1685) · From De Rerum Natura (Dryden, 1685)

Living

Thus, like a sailor by a tempest hurled
Ashore, the babe is shipwrecked on the world.
Naked he lies, and ready to expire,
Helpless of all that human wants require;
Exposed upon unhospitable earth,
From the first moment of his hapless birth.
Straight with foreboding cries he fills the room,
Too true presages of his future doom.
But flocks and herds, and every savage beast,
By more indulgent nature are increased:
They want no rattles for their froward mood,
Nor nurse to reconcile them to their food,
With broken words; nor winter blasts they fear,
Nor change their habits with the changing year;
Nor, for their safety, citadels prepare,
Nor forge the wicked instruments of war;
Unlaboured earth her bounteous treasure grants,
And Nature's lavish hand supplies their common wants.

MLA

Lucretius. “De Rerum Natura V: The Newborn Child (Dryden).” Translated by John Dryden. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/lucretius/5/.

Chicago

Lucretius. “De Rerum Natura V: The Newborn Child (Dryden).” Translated by John Dryden. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/lucretius/5/.

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