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IV
Oh, the mind and its kingdoms are goodly, and well for the brain
That has craft to discover and cunning to bind to its will
And wisdom to weigh at its worth all the wealth they contain.
But the heart has its empire as well, and he shall fare ill
Who has learned not the way to its meadows. His knowledge shall be
A bitter taste in his heart; he shall spit at his skill;
And the days of his life shall be sterile and salt as the sea.
That has craft to discover and cunning to bind to its will
And wisdom to weigh at its worth all the wealth they contain.
But the heart has its empire as well, and he shall fare ill
Who has learned not the way to its meadows. His knowledge shall be
A bitter taste in his heart; he shall spit at his skill;
And the days of his life shall be sterile and salt as the sea.
74
Ay, save the man's love be made greater, even knowledge shall wane,
And burn to the mere dry shrivelled mummy of thought,
As the sweet grass withers and dies if it get not the rain.
But we—oh, what have we done that the heart should be taught?
We have given men brawn—without love 't is the Brute come again;
We have given men brain—without love 't is the Fiend. Is there aught
We have given to greaten the soul, we who dare to shape men?
And burn to the mere dry shrivelled mummy of thought,
As the sweet grass withers and dies if it get not the rain.
But we—oh, what have we done that the heart should be taught?
We have given men brawn—without love 't is the Brute come again;
We have given men brain—without love 't is the Fiend. Is there aught
We have given to greaten the soul, we who dare to shape men?
Oh, train we the body for beauty, and train we the soul
Not only as mind but as man, not to know but to be!
Give us masters to fashion our hearts! Let the fool be a mole
And burrow his life out; the wise man shall be as a tree
That sends down his roots to the mole-world, but laughs in the air
With his flowers, and his branches shall stretch to the sun to get free;
And the shepherds and husbandmen feed of the fruit he shall bear.
Not only as mind but as man, not to know but to be!
Give us masters to fashion our hearts! Let the fool be a mole
And burrow his life out; the wise man shall be as a tree
That sends down his roots to the mole-world, but laughs in the air
With his flowers, and his branches shall stretch to the sun to get free;
And the shepherds and husbandmen feed of the fruit he shall bear.
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