When you pace quietly along,

I also pace along;

When you go more quickly,

I also do the same;

When you gallop, I also gallop;

But when you race along

And spurn the dust,

Then I can only stand

And look at your decline,

Keeping myself behind. . .

This is the way I put you

On the fence

Standing between

Success and failure, . . I win.

Do you want to know

Why is this so? Very simple --

My goal is to bringing your Self

To excess.

That is the main principle

Of the art of gain victory

Without actual fight.

You'd also like to know, I guess,

What is the true meaning

Of all these words, am I right?

By saying that

'When you pace quietly along,

I also pace along,' I mean that

When you speak, I also speak.

By saying,

'When you go more quickly,

I also do the same,' I mean

That when you reason,

I also reason in a parallel.

By saying,

'When you gallop I also gallop,'

I mean that when you speak of

The proper way of life,

I also speak of the same way.

But when I say,

'When you race along

And spurn the dust,

Then I can only stare

And keep behind you,'

I just think how come

That though you do not speak,

Yet all men believe you.

Though you do not play

The part of a peacemaker,

Yet all parties approve

Your universal style;

And though you sound

No instrument,

Yet people all move

On harmoniously before you,

While all the while

I do not know how

All this comes about. . .

And this is all what my words

Are intended to express. . .

Meanwhile, I confess, I lose.