The Sword of Song

ASCENSION DAY 13 One year’s effect, one moment’s cause; What mind could estimate such laws ? Who then (much more !) may act aright Judged by and in ten centuries’ sight? (Yet I believe, whate’er we do Is best for me and best for you And best for all : I line no brow With wrinkles, meditating how.) Well, but another way remains. Shall we expound the cosmic plan By symbolising God and man And nature thus? As man contains Cells, nerves, grey matter in his brains, Each cell a life, self-centred, free Yet self-subordinate to the whole For its own sake—expand !—so we Molecules of a central soul, Time’s sons, judged by Eternity. Nature is gone—our joys, our pains, Our little lives—and God remains. Were this the truth—why ! worship then Were not so imbecile for men! But that’s no Christian faith ! For where Enters the dogma of despair ? Despite his logic’s silver flow I must count Caird62 a mystic ! No ! You Christians shall not mask me so The plain words of your sacred books Behind friend Swedenborg his spooks ! Says Huxley63 in his works (q. v.) “The microcosmic lives change daily In state or body”—yet you gaily Arm a false Hegel cap-à-pie— Your self, his weapons—make him wear False favours of a ladye fayre (The scarlet woman !) bray and blare A false note on the trumpet, shout : “A champion ? Faith’s defender ! Out ! Sceptic and sinner ! See me ! Quail I ?” I cite the Little-go. You stare, And have no further use for Paley ! Caird’s inter- pretation of Hegel. His identification of it with Chris- tianity proved to be mystical. His interpreta- tion false. 420 425 430 435 440 445 450 455