©Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia

PRELUDE AT THE THEATRE 63
Come, come, no more delay, no more excuses,
The stuff we ask you for, at once produce us.
Lose this day loitering-'twill be the same story
To·morrow-and the next more dilatory;
Then indecision brings its own delays,
And days are lost lamenting o'er lost da.ys.
Are you in earnest? seize this very minllte­
What you can do, or dream you can, begin it,
Boldness hl\s genius, power, and magic in it.
Only engage, and then the mind grows heated­
Begin it, and the work will be completed!
You know our German bards, like bold adventurers,
Bring out whate'er they please, and laugh at censurers,
Then do not think to·day of sparing scenery­
Command enough of dresses and machinery;
Use as you please-fire, water, thunder, levin-
The greater and the lesser lights of heaven.
Squander away the stars at your free pleasure,
And build up rocks and mountains without measure.
Of birds and beasts we've plenty here to lavish,
Come, cast away all apprehensions slavish-
Strut, on our narrow stage, with lofty stature,
As moving through the circle of wide nature.
With swiftest spel'd, in calm thought weighing well
Each movement--move from HE~VEN through EARTH
to HELL.
©Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia