So shed
the primal curse
Its dreadful stature,
its appalling
shape.
In giant horror the clouds rolling drape
Earth,
like a plumed pall upon an hearse.
Till God looms up, half devil and half ape.
Heaven
exulting
in the hateful rape
;
And still the strong curse rolls
Over accursed and immortal souls,
Covering
the corners of the universe
Without escape.
This is the evil destiny of man
:
The desperate plan
Made by the Ancient
One,
to keep His power.
Limits He set, made
space unsearchable
Yet bounded, made time endless to transcend
Man's thought to comprehend :
Builded
the Tower
Of life, and girded
it with walls of hell,
The name of Death.
This limit in all things
Baffles the spirit wings,
Chains the swift soul ; for even Death
is bound.
In its apparent amplitude I saw,
I, who have slept through
death,
have surely found
The old accursed law.
And death has changed to life.
This task alone
Shoots to the starry throne
:
1 1 1