Of rivers ribboning the vales; Of plains that stretched in smoothness down, And unborn seasons yet to be Spring's violet banks, and Autumn's brown; Bright Summer, mistress of the sun, And grey-beard Winter's boreal crown.
And when at length the scheme complete Unfolded to the Maker's sight, How He, Almighty and divine Said in his power, "Let there be light!" Gave sun and moon, and sowed the stars Along the furrows of the night!
Lo! every nation has its tale And every people, how they be; Whether where Southern zephyrs loose The blooms from off the tamarind tree, Or where the six-month seasons bide Around the cloistered Polar sea.
And Science with unyielding scales Weighs each and all of varied styles; And like a Goddess molds decrees Oblivious both to tears or smiles; Points out the error, reads the rule And God with Nature reconciles.
But who shall sift the false and true? What Oracle the rule enforce? Not man-made creed, nor man-learned law Is wise to fathom Nature's course; No sea is deeper than its bed No stream is higher than its source.
Vain hope to solve the Infinite! Mere words to babble, when they say "Thus Science teaches,"--"thus our God"-- Thus this or that--what of it, pray? The marvel overlapping all-- Go ask the Sphynx of Yesterday.
We know the All, and nothing know; The great we ken as well as least; But sum it all when we have said That man is different from the beast; And spite of all Theology The Pagan's equal to the Priest.
And globes will lapse, and suns expire; As stars have fallen, worlds can change; Forever shall the centuries roll And roving planets tireless range; And Life be masked in secrecy With Death, as ever, passing strange.
And trow not, Mortal, in thy pride That where yon beetling column stands Rests Permanence; 'twill disappear To sink in marsh or barren lands, Where bitterns boom, or sunlight stares Across the immemorial sands.
Of old when man to being came He fashioned Gods of brittle bone; Bowed down to wooden fetiches Or worshipped idols carved from stone; And, locked in Superstition's grasp For sacrifice made lives atone.
And Fear was then the Higher Law And fleshly joys the aftermath; He knew no screed of Righteousness And trod no straight and narrow path; His Deity a terror was A Demon winged with might and wrath.