Here you will find the Poem A Tusculan Question of poet Alfred Austin
One day as on an ass I rode, By many a twisting gully, To where once stood the famed abode Of philosophic Tully, A shepherd lad with hat aslouch Was singing to his flock O; I pulled my money from my pouch, And chucked him a baiocco. A moment gone, and with his psalm The hills and woods were ringing; But when the copper touched his palm, Sudden he ceased his singing. Ah! like to bees that cease to hum, When pressing on for honey, So doth the singing soul grow dumb, Intent on clogging money. Kind Heaven! forbid that ever I Should sink in golden torpor! If, living, I may sing, I'll die Contentedly a pauper.
