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19

Too young art thou to waste this summer night
asking those idle questions which of old
man sought of seer and oracle, and no reply was told...

For, sweet, to feel is better than to know,
and wisdom is a childless heritage.
One pulse of passion - youth's first fiery glow,
are worth the hoarded proverbs of the sage:
Vex not your soul with dead philosophy,
Have we not lips to kiss with, hearts to love, and eyes to see!".

As indeed have we not -

Hélas

"To drift with every passion till my soul
Is a stringed lute on which all men can play.
Is it for this that I have given away.
Mine ancient wisdom & austere control!
Methinks my life is a twice-written scroll
Scrawled over on some boyish holiday
With idle songs for pipe and virelay,
Which do but mar the secret of the whole.

Transcription Notes:
. found Wilde quote online [[well done!!]]