Is it that so the wheel may whirl again,
That some dull devil in my ear may show me:
‘* For Johnthe 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—am I aman? 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 disgrace?
Where is the profit in so idle a strife?
The love of knowledge is the hate of life.
45