Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume VI. Fancy. 1904. | | | | Poems of Sentiment: II. Life | | The Generous Air | | Palladas (fl. 4th Century A.D.) |
| | From the Greek by William M. Hardinge
BREATHING the thin breath through our nostrils, we | |
| Live, and a little space the sunlight see— | |
| Even all that live—each being an instrument | |
| To which the generous air its life has lent. | |
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| If with the hand one quench our draught of breath, | 5 |
| He sends the stark soul shuddering down to death. | |
| We that are nothing on our pride are fed, | |
| Seeing, but for a little air, we are as dead. | | | | |
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