Quotes from Burton Raffel

Quickly, the dragon came at him, encouraged As Beowulf fell back; its breath flared, And he suffered, wrapped around in swirling Flames -- a king, before, but now A beaten warrior. None of his comrades Came to him, helped him, his brave and noble Followers; they ran for their lives, fled Deep in a wood. And only one of them Remained, stood there, miserable, remembering, As a good man must, what kinship should mean.

Fate will unwind as it must!

I've never known fear; as a youth I fought/ In endless battles. I am old, now,/ But I will fight again, seek fame still,/ If the dragon hiding in his tower dares/ To face me

Beloved Beowulf, remember how you boasted, Once, that nothing in the world would ever Destroy your fame; fight to keep it, Now, be strong and brave, my noble King, protecting life and fame Together. My sword will fight at your side!

That struggle was too strong, hateful and long-lasting, which had come on the people, dire wrack and ruin - the greatest of night-evils.

Art does not have to be dull, to be effective; the artist does not have to be a bore, to be real.

EUROPA Europa costs you a dollar. No one cares, Including her. She's got clean sheets And a fire in winter. Why bother Becoming a bull, O Zeus!

Strength and courage are basic virtues for both followed and follower.

The good fighter, the hero, the man who wins the most precious of all treasures, fame, is the man who never gives up, and who does not worry about the possible consequences of bravery

Battle is a way of life, a necessary function of the worthiest members of society.

Ode I.11 Leucon, no one's allowed to know his fate, Not you, not me: don't ask, don't hunt for answers In tea leaves or palms. Be patient with whatever comes. This could be our last winter, it could be many More, pounding the Tuscan Sea on these rocks: Do what you must, be wise, cut your vines And forget about hope. Time goes running, even As we talk. Take the present, the future's no one's affair

So time flows slow and worthless If it keeps me from understanding What I need, what I want

PLATO A CAUTIONARY TALE He lost his gold, And he, finding the first man's gold, Lost his belt, And then he who lost his gold Found the other man's belt And hanged himself.

His vanity swelled him so vile and rank That he could hear no voice but his own. He deserved to suffer and die.

Art does not have to be dull, to be effective; the artist does not have to be a bore, to be real.

I've never known fear; as a youth I fought/ In endless battles. I am old, now,/ But I will fight again, seek fame still,/ If the dragon hiding in his tower dares/ To face me