Skip directly to:Main content Main navigation

University of Virginia Library

Blackberries

by William Allingham

Allingham, William (1824-1889)

collapse section

[The Theologian, propping faith with lies]

[By miracles these, and by mechanics those]

[Knowledge, exact and measurable, this]

Artist v. Scientist.

[Divide, combine, search, sift, and pry]

[Some have spent their money in seeking Philosopher's Stone]

[How man's high thoughts and aspirations came]

[God's banish'd from the Universe, they say]

[You may sketch the world of what shape you please]

[“Man's tongue can utter everything:” O fool!]

[The eyes of Modern Science do not grow]

[What can you tell us of Life? you live in the Cavern of Death.]

[Men try all fashions; “God made Man,”]

[“‘God’ is a foolish name. MAN, whom I worship, is true.]

[“I don't believe in either God or Man.]

[This World has no moral or meaning: the kaleidoscope of Man's Mind]

[“Man's a machine.” Well, if we ever can]

[Less virtuous than they might and ought to be]

[The Age of Poetry is gone]

[How Man is like to Ape we have now heard enough and to spare]

[What if “Nature” be so finely wrought]

[Facts bear analysis and tabulation]

To a Famous Man.

[Well, God in mind of man once held at least]

[“I look for God, no God can see.”]

[Adventurous Spirit, trying every road]

[Army of Science! ever marching]

collapse section

Collapse All | Expand All expand section

27

[Facts bear analysis and tabulation]

Facts bear analysis and tabulation,
And truth is found by ratiocination.
Reality's our element; we make
Sure way; and into our possession take
New facts, acquired by conquering Intellect.
All facts are precious; none should we neglect.
Agreed. Nor count less precious than the rest
Love, Poesy, and Conscience,—though they be
Imponderable, nay, a deal too fine
For chemic or for mathematic test.
Into the sea of truth, the mighty sea,
How far as yet goes man's best plummet-line?