Be Silent

Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending

Vaughan Williams: Five Variants of "Dives and Lazarus"

In the neighborhood
lived a famous dervish
who passed for
the best philosopher
in Turkey.
They went to consult him:
Pangloss, who was
their spokesman,
addressed him thus:
Master, we come
to entreat you to tell us
why so strange an animal
as man has been formed?
Why do you trouble
your head about it?
said the dervish;
is it any business of yours?
But, Reverend Father,
said Candide,
there is a horrible deal
of evil on the earth.
What does it matter, said the dervish, whether there is evil or good?
When His Highness sends a ship to Egypt does he trouble his head whether the rats in the vessel are at their ease or not?
What must then be done? said Pangloss.
Be silent, answered the dervish.
--Voltaire
Candide