IN ANSWER TO A QUESTION IN THE GREEK GRAMMAR <br /> <br />They speak of never-withering shades, <br />And bowers of opening joy; <br />They promise mines of fairy gold, <br />And bliss without alloy. <br />They whisper strange enchanting things <br />Within Hope's greedy ears; <br />And sure this tuneful voice exceeds <br />The music of the spheres. <br /> <br />They speak of pleasure to the gay, <br />And wisdom to the wise; <br />And soothe the poet's beating heart <br />With fame that never dies. <br />To virgins languishing in love <br />They speak the minute nigh; <br />And warm consenting hearts they join, <br />And paint the rapture high. <br />In every language, every tongue, <br />The same kind things they say; <br />In gentle slumbers speak by night, <br />In waking dreams by day. <br />Cassandra's fate reversed is theirs; <br />She true, no faith could gain,— <br />They every passing hour deceive, <br />Yet are believed again.<br /><br />Anna Laetitia Barbauld<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/what-do-the-futures-speak-of/
