17 JULY 1976, Page 25

Divagation

I. A. Richards

The intellect ()final; is forced to choose Perfection of the life or of the work.

W. B. Yeats

Who'd think he'd see so proud a Master blot His copy-book so sadly ?Not

The intellect. (That is no serf to force.)

Ambitions rather : legendary source

Of all our error. Perfection ?No.

That's not for us, however low We pitch our aims. For life and work This conflict's just a lofty way to shirk.

Speech this fora play : What some self-pitying poet well might say.