C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature.
An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.

Sorrow and Joy

Translation of Sir John Bowring

AND what is sorrow? ’Tis a boundless sea.

And what is joy?

A little pearl in that deep ocean’s bed;

I sought it—found it—held it o’er my head,

And to my soul’s annoy,

It fell into the ocean’s depth again,

And now I look and long for it in vain.