English poem
Quieta Movere
by A. D. Godley (1856–1925)
"Any leap in the dark is better than standing still."--New Proverb.
Talk not to us of the joys of the Present, Say not what is is undoubtedly best: Never be ours to be merely quiescent-- Anything, everything rather than rest!
Placid prosperity bores us and vexes: What if philosophers Latin and Greek Say that well-being's a Status and Exis? Nothing should please you for more than a week.
Tinkering, doctoring, shifting, deranging, Urged by a constant satiety on, Ever the new for the newer exchanging, Hazarding ever the gains we have won--
Only perpetual flux can delight us, Blown like a billow by winds of the sea: Still let us bow to the shrine of St. Vitus-- Vite Sanctissime, ora pro me!
Pray, that when leaps in the darkness uncaring End in a fall (as they probably will), Mine be the credit for valiantly daring, Others be charged with defraying the bill!
Greek as follows: Epsilon (with the rough-breathing diacritical), xi, iota, sigma.]