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[“I don't believe in either God or Man.]
“I don't believe in either God or Man.
Conscious Automata, we nothing can,
Save as our atoms feel tyrannic chance;
For all's heredity and circumstance.
Conscience,—Freewill,—absurd! And if you ask
How on these terms fulfil life's daily task?
What motives? And what conduct?—look at me:
One more respectable you'll scarcely see,
As family man, friend, citizen, professor.
Be you, or public judgment, my assessor.”
Conscious Automata, we nothing can,
Save as our atoms feel tyrannic chance;
For all's heredity and circumstance.
Conscience,—Freewill,—absurd! And if you ask
How on these terms fulfil life's daily task?
What motives? And what conduct?—look at me:
One more respectable you'll scarcely see,
As family man, friend, citizen, professor.
Be you, or public judgment, my assessor.”
“Good, my dear Sir!—but we must wait, I doubt,
To notice how your grandchildren turn out,
Born in the doctrine, reared upon the plan,
Of total disbelief in God and man.
Let this experiment be fairly made,
Nor Science mourn, by Her high priests betray'd;
Oh, let her teach them, from their tenderest youth,
The Truth, the whole Truth, nothing but the Truth—
Material Atoms, and Mechanic Force;
And send the boys and girls rejoicing on their course!”
To notice how your grandchildren turn out,
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Of total disbelief in God and man.
Let this experiment be fairly made,
Nor Science mourn, by Her high priests betray'd;
Oh, let her teach them, from their tenderest youth,
The Truth, the whole Truth, nothing but the Truth—
Material Atoms, and Mechanic Force;
And send the boys and girls rejoicing on their course!”
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