 | Mansoul or The Riddle of the World |  |
THE VOICE
Mansoul.
And is there ány, amongst the sons of men;
To whose Téstimony áll Humanity might trust?
Were not they, as we be, gropers ín thick Murk!
Nor may those wéll be reconciled, mongst themselves:
Whom Mankind deemed, were Heralds of the Gods.
Voices.
Other Voices.
What should those prófit Mans disbódied spirits?
Mans destiny is veiled, with an eternal cloud.
The Fates' decrees, nót visible are to sight.
That occult knowledge tó themselves reserve,
Aye-living Gods.
Mans destiny is veiled, with an eternal cloud.
The Fates' decrees, nót visible are to sight.
That occult knowledge tó themselves reserve,
Aye-living Gods.
Mansoul fell in discourse;
With certain spirits, whom men deemed Friends-of-God:
Shepherds of souls, unto whóm committed was,
Of Heaven, to feed and fold the human flocks.
Likewise with some philosophers he discoursed,
Of hidden causes; ánd with poets old;
Which, in their days, with child went of great thoughts:
Men of prowd parts; whom the Ionic rocks
Brought forth, to solace óf mens travaillous breasts.
(But of their utterance, ás nights dream that fades:
I few words only, may recall to mind.)
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Shepherds of souls, unto whóm committed was,
Of Heaven, to feed and fold the human flocks.
Likewise with some philosophers he discoursed,
Of hidden causes; ánd with poets old;
Which, in their days, with child went of great thoughts:
Men of prowd parts; whom the Ionic rocks
Brought forth, to solace óf mens travaillous breasts.
(But of their utterance, ás nights dream that fades:
I few words only, may recall to mind.)
Mansoul.
And is there ány, amongst the sons of men;
To whose Téstimony áll Humanity might trust?
Were not they, as we be, gropers ín thick Murk!
Nor may those wéll be reconciled, mongst themselves:
Whom Mankind deemed, were Heralds of the Gods.
Voices.
Is not the World all guile? Born in Worlds wood,
Where life preys upon life; mens homicide hearts,
Dissemble sooth, to máintain their own parts.
Where life preys upon life; mens homicide hearts,
Dissemble sooth, to máintain their own parts.
Some dreameth, his yesternights begotten wit;
Unfolding tardily, ás Spring leaves' bud doth:
Third part of whóse life-days, night-dotage is,
Of dreams; and childhoods weakness hardly less:
Sufficeth to sound illimitable Universe!
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Third part of whóse life-days, night-dotage is,
Of dreams; and childhoods weakness hardly less:
Sufficeth to sound illimitable Universe!
Other Voices.
The lips of many have spoken words of Life.
In this, at least, the best agree in one:
That ín well-dóing and righteous human life;
Sure pathway lies untó immortal Gods.
In this, at least, the best agree in one:
That ín well-dóing and righteous human life;
Sure pathway lies untó immortal Gods.
In áll the haps and changes of the Time
And of their World, which those have sought to purge:
Mans Reason is his lamp and only guide.
Nor uniform is that Reason of a man;
But warped, with every variance of the World;
His time, place, partiálity ánd bríef years.
And of their World, which those have sought to purge:
Mans Reason is his lamp and only guide.
Nor uniform is that Reason of a man;
But warped, with every variance of the World;
His time, place, partiálity ánd bríef years.
| Mansoul or The Riddle of the World | |