CHORAL ODE II — The Feast of Fools

 CHORAL ODE II — The Feast of Fools 

STROPHE

Leader

O splendid Zeus! We call to you—

 But only if the wine is good.

 For prayers are dry, and throats are too,

 When gods demand more song than food.

Chorus

Pour! Pour again! Let reason drown!

 The wise grow thin, the fools grow fat!

 The stars will fall, the world spin down,

 But still we’ll drink and laugh at that!

Leader

A man may seek immortal fame—

 Yet none remember when he’s gone.

 So fill the cup, forget the name;

 The grape outlives the hero’s song.

ANTISTROPHE (extended)

Chorus

Behold the sages in the clouds!

 Their thoughts are smoke, their sandals torn.

 They chase the wind, they preach aloud—

 And lose their purse before the morn!

Leader (added verse)

I met a priest who vowed to fast,

 And starve until his soul grew pure—

 But when he smelt the roasting lamb,

 His faith grew faint, his stomach sure!

Chorus (added verse)

The gods themselves can’t help but grin,

 When mortals try to mimic saints!

 For holiness is sweet to speak,

 But hard to keep with wine and feasts!

Leader (continuing)

The gods themselves grow bored with prayer;

 They lean from heaven, half asleep.

 They’d rather watch a donkey dance

 Than hear men promise what they’ll keep.

Chorus

O laughter, cure for every ill!

 O wine, sweet healer of the heart!

 The sober man is twice a fool—

 He dies of sense before the start!

EPODE

Leader

So eat, and sing, and love, and fall—

 The earth forgives the noisy kind.

 The grave is silent, that is all;

 The rest is breath and joy combined.

Chorus

Let Zeus keep heaven, cold and far—

 We’ll keep our cups and company!

 If fools we are, then fools we’ll be,

 And wiser none beneath the stars!

Leader (final wink)

Believe you the gods on our actions think?

They delight most in feasts and drink.

Chorus (chanting)

Ho! Ho! Laugh loud, sing to the sky!

Drink deep of life before you die!