1 <br />in the fourth book of the Peloponnesian War <br />Thucydides tells among other things <br />the story of his unsuccessful expedition <br />among long speeches of chiefs <br />battles sieges plague <br />dense net of intrigues of diplomatic endeavours <br />the episode is like a pin <br />in a forest <br />the Greek colony Amphipolis <br />fell into the hands of Brasidos <br />because Thucydides was late with relief <br />for this he paid his native city <br />with lifelong exile <br />exiles of all times <br />know what price that is <br />2 <br />generals of the most recent wars <br />if a similar affair happens to them <br />whine on their knees before posterity <br />praise their heroism and innocence <br />they accuse their subordinates <br />envious colleagues <br />unfavourable winds <br />Thucydides says only <br />that he had seven ships <br />it was winter <br />and he sailed quickly <br />3 <br />if art for its subject <br />will have a broken jar <br />a small broken soul <br />with a great self-pity <br />what will remain after us <br />will it be lovers' weeping <br />in a small dirty hotel <br />when wall-paper dawns<br /><br />Zbigniew Herbert<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/why-the-classics/
