39 

Do you know how wild goats breed upon the hills?

Can you control the calving of the hinds?

2 

Do you fix their appointed time?

Do you know when they are to bear?

3 

Down they bend, and the womb opens,

as they drop their young--

4 

lusty offspring, thriving in the open,

that run off and return not to the herd.

5 

Who gave the wild ass his freedom?

Who let the swift ass roam at large,

6 

whose home I make the steppes,

whose dwelling is the salty land?

7 

He scorns the noisy town,

he hears no driver’s shout;

8 

he scours the hills for pasture,

in search of any green thing.

9 

Will the wild ox be content to slave for you?

Will he stay in your stable?

10 

Can you rope him to your plough?

Will he harrow the furrows for you?

11 

Will you trust to his tremendous strength,

and let him do your fieldwork?

12 

Will you rely on him to come

and carry corn home to your threshing-floor?

19 

Do you supply the war-horse with his strength,

or cover his neck with the tossing mane?

20 

Do you make him leap forward like a locust,

snorting bravely, furiously?

21 

He paws the valley proudly,

facing the clash of arms;

22 

he mocks at fear, unterrified,

he flies not from the sword;

23 

the quiver rattles against him,

the glittering spear and javelin,

24 

but on he charges in wild rage,

straight ahead, never swerving;

25 

the trumpet sounds--‘Aha!’ he cries,

scenting the battle from afar,

where captains thunder, ’mid the shouts of war.

26 

Does your wit send the hawk to soar

and spread her wings for the south?

27 

Does your word make the eagle mount

to nest aloft among the hills?

28 

Her home is high upon the cliffs,

on the peak of the crag she perches;

29 

she spies her prey from the height,

with eyes that see from far;

30 

her young ones suck up blood,

and where the slain are, there is she.

13 

[[The ostrich flaps her wings in pride;

but is the feathered creature kind?

14 

She leaves her eggs upon the earth

to warm and hatch out in the dust,

15 

forgetting that a foot may crush them,

or a wild beast tread on them--

16 

harsh to her young, as if they were not hers,

unheeding though her labour is in vain;

17 

for God makes her devoid of 17 sense,

he denies her intelligence.

18 

Let hunters come, and she will scour the plain,

scorning the horse and its rider.]]