Classic Poem

Two dreamers we, and dread not Time's mischances;
Let Fortune smile or frown or go or stay,
Our wealth abides; and fair or foul her glances,—
Hey-nonny-nonny!—pipe the jade away!

To tend the sacred Fire that needs no fuel,—
To dwell on Helicon and pay no rent,—
To meditate the Muse and dine on gruel,—
How rich are we who therewith are content!

Let yon pale cit, whose sole and only classic
Is his fat ledger, sweat and toil and pray.
For us the Spring, the Arbute tree, the Massic,
And loaf with Horace all the solid day!

We covet not your well-filled, tight-laced purses,
Those gilded garners for the moth and rust;
Leave us but stylus, tablet, Flaccus' verses,
We reign in rags and banquet on a crust.