The Mystery of Mysteries
By footprints faint as these, the Master-mind?
What though primeval atoms dumbly teach
The law of change, which, ere life yet began,
Gave form to formless matter,—can they preach
Of aught that's older than themselves to Man?
Reveal a Presence greater than we see,
Greater than all we are and all we hope to be?
What though primeval atoms dumbly teach
The law of change, which, ere life yet began,
Gave form to formless matter,—can they preach
Of aught that's older than themselves to Man?
Reveal a Presence greater than we see,
Greater than all we are and all we hope to be?
III
Perchance, perchance at last, his toils and tears,
The long death-grapple of his hopes and fears,
And wisdom martyred all the countless years,—
Through deepening soul and heart's enlarged embrace,
And Duty owned sole star of worshippers,—
Shall this day's type of half-formed man efface
(What time the wrangling Oracles are dumb)
To set the crown of Godhead on our race,
And work the nobler miracles to come.
In vain for ages long we seek a sign
Of any God on earth, till Man becomes divine.
The long death-grapple of his hopes and fears,
And wisdom martyred all the countless years,—
Through deepening soul and heart's enlarged embrace,
And Duty owned sole star of worshippers,—
Shall this day's type of half-formed man efface
(What time the wrangling Oracles are dumb)
To set the crown of Godhead on our race,
And work the nobler miracles to come.
In vain for ages long we seek a sign
Of any God on earth, till Man becomes divine.
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