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

Punch Song

Translation of Lord Edward Bulwer-Lytton

FOUR elements joined in

An emulous strife

Fashion the world and

Constitute life.

From the sharp citron

The starry juice pour:

Acid to life is

The innermost core.

Now let the sugar

The bitter one meet:

Still be life’s bitter

Tamed down to the sweet.

Let the bright water

Flow into the bowl:

Water, the calm one,

Embraces the whole.

Drops from the spirit

Pour quickening within:

Life but its life from

The spirit can win.

Haste while it gloweth,

Your vessel to bring:

The wave has but virtue

Drunk hot from the spring.