"The gods grant us this one"

The gods grant us this one
Liberty to submit ourselves
To their dominion by an act of will.
It is better that we do this
Since only in its illusion
Does freedom find existence. 

The gods, on whom fate eternal
Weighs do not act otherwise
In their calm and ancient
Self-possessed conviction
That their life's divine and free.

Imitating gods, we, as little
Free as they up on Olympus,
Like those who on the sands
Build castles for the eye's delight-
Let us build our life so that
The gods will know how to thank us
For being their co-equals...