Collected Works (Vol. III)

IMAGES OF LIFE 93 Its maddening measures in my heart and brain ! Is it that so the wheel may whirl again, That some dull devil in my ear may show me: ‘‘For John the Baptist’s head—so danced Salome !” ? VIII. Then, in God’s name forbear! It does not matter. Life, death, strength, weakness, are but idle chatter. Nothing is lost or gained, we know too well. For heaven they balance us an equal hell. We discard both; an infinite Universe Remains; we sum it up—an infinite curse. So—amIaman? I lack my wife’s embrace. Am I outworn? I see the harlot’s face. Is the love better and the knowledge worse? Shall I seek knowledge and count love dis- grace ? Where is the profit in so idle a strife? The love of knowledge is the hate of life. DIOGENES. ‘* ALL things are good” exclaimed the boy. Who taste the sweetmeat find it cloy. ‘* All things are ill’ the dotard sang. Who stir the serpent feel the fang. ‘* Allis a dream!” the wise man spake. Who grasp the bubble find it break. Aye, to all three the saga saith : There is no joy in life but death. There is this limit set to lust : Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. O fools and blind that sickly strive To amass, to glut yourselves, to swive, To drink, to acquire respect and praise :— These visions perish as you gaze. Eternal mockery is the real ; Eternal falsehood, the ideal. Choose: nay, abstain from choice of these. Go, be alone, and be at ease ! Retire : renounce: the hermit’s cell Hath all of earth, and nought of hell. Renouncing all, keep nought enshrined A lurking serpent in the mind. Deem not to catch some goodlier gain Than these ; the goodliest prize were pain. Know that the utmost heaven is void Of aught save star or asteroid ! Or, an it please thee, idly dream A God therein, a force supreme, A heart of love, a crown of light, An infinite music of delight ;— This, but no more ; let fancy sway But never fix the transient ray! All things are lawful, so they be At most a marshalled imagery. Dream of Itarth’s glories higher and higher, Mounting the minaret, desire; Never attaining to the sky, Realization—lest thou die. So dream, possessing all; so dream, Possessing nothing: I esteem These twain as one, since dreams they are. Thus mayst thou journey far and far And far! to climes unguessed, to seas Proud with seignorial argosies, To mountains strange with golden snows, To gardens green with many a rose, To secrets past the sense of sense, Skies virgin of experience, Untrodden avenues of mind, Things far from hurrying humankind. Thus spins out life its splendid charm :— Live, love, enjoy, yet do no harm, No rose of thought may bear or breed The poisonous thorn of word and deed.