The Oak
Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-92)
His English, my Latin
The Oak
Live thy Life,
Young and old,
Like yon oak,
Bright in spring,
Living gold;
Summer-rich
Then; and then
Autumn-changed
Soberer-hued
Gold again.
All his leaves
Fall'n at length,
Look, he stands,
Trunk and bough
Naked strength.Quercus
vive prout quercus iuvenisque senexque propinqua:
aurea uti quercus tu quoque vere nite,
aestiva locuples, autumna fronde minori,
aurea tranquillo rite colore novo.
denique nudata est foliis, en robore rami
stant nudo, nudo robore truncus item.Translation: Copyright © Timothy Adès