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Ranolf and Amohia

II

II.

" Well! if this non-apparent Something still
Exists, nay seems the universe to fill,
Producing all we are and all we know;
And if its Sphere be such, the human brain
Must never hope an entrance to obtain
For science to its wonders—overthrow
Or undermine its jealous walls—or gain
At least some glimpses] of the fait domain—
By observation or deduction slow,
By force of Intellect—perhaps too poor
A tool to burst the Imperial Pahce-door—
(Though I for one will never cease to think
The endlessly-expanding sphere allowed
To Man's Experience must one day supply
Some solid basis, starting-point or link—
Though many a thousand years it take, whereby Science
Demonstrative shall pierce the cloud
And back with glittering spoil come laden gloriously!)
But if this may not be-what then is dear?
What is the worst we then should have to fear?
Why, to confess, that Supernatural sphere,
That Unapparent region, must be such,
For Intellect thereon to logicise
Would be to try rich colours with the touch
Or test melodious sounds with keen bright eyes—
page 53 As Dante's heard the sculptured Widow's speech—
On that white frieze-like Purgatorial bank
Whose end each way his eyesight could not reach
Ask death for her son's murderer as she sank
At Trajan's feet, and ceased not to beseech
Till his roused virtue had vouchsafed her prayer;
Then saw the sound of visible replies
The marble Emperor made her voiceless cries.
That feat we would not ape, but rather dare
Confess that in an atmosphere so rare
The leaden wing of Logic cannot rise;
That by Emotion, not Reflection, best
The Soul is borne aloft in that fine air—
Feeling, not Thought, her fiery chariot there!
The highest Sentiment were then confest
The base whereon the highest Truth must rest
True till a higher Truth were felt or found
And by the beating hearts of men around
As such accepted—welcomed—honoured—crowned
Still raised, refined, as Science purged away
What films of Error might obscure its ray;
Aught from that lower realm that might alloy
Its gold, would Logic fasten on—destroy;
And everything she honestly disproved,
Must be relinquished—howsoe'er beloved,