A youth, whom wisdom's warm desire had lured To learn the secret lore of Egypt's priests, To Saïs came. And soon, from step to step Of upward mystery, swept his rapid soul! Still ever sped the glorious Hope along, Nor could the parch'd Impatience halt, appeased By the calm answer of the Hierophant-- "What have I, if I have not all," he sigh'd; "And giv'st thou but the little and the more? Does thy truth dwindle to the gauge of gold, A sum that man may smaller or less small Possess and count--subtract or add to--still? Is not TRUTH _one_ and indivisible? Take from the Harmony a single tone A single tint take from the Iris bow-- And lo! what once was all, is nothing--while Fails to the lovely whole one tint or tone!" They stood within the temple's silent dome, And, as the young man paused abrupt, his gaze Upon a veil'd and giant IMAGE fell: Amazed he turn'd unto his guide--"And what Towers, yonder, vast beneath the veil?" "THE TRUTH," Answered the Priest. "And have I for the truth Panted and struggled with a lonely soul, And yon the thin and ceremonial robe That wraps her from mine eyes?" Replied the Priest, "There shrouds herself the still Divinity. Hear, and revere her best: 'Till I this veil Lift--may no mortal-born presume to raise; And who with guilty and unhallow'd hand Too soon profanes the Holy and Forbidden-- He,' says the goddess."-- "Well?" "'SHALL SEE THE TRUTH!'" "And wond'rous oracle; and hast _thou_ never Lifted the veil?" "No! nor desired to raise!" "What! nor desired? O strange, incurious heart, Here the thin barrier--there reveal'd the truth!" Mildly return'd the priestly master: "Son, More mighty than thou dream'st of, Holy Law Spreads interwoven in yon slender web, Air-light to touch--lead-heavy to the soul!" The young man, thoughtful, turn'd him to his home, And the sharp fever of the Wish to Know Robb'd night of sleep. Around his couch he roll'd, Till midnight hatch'd resolve-- "Unto the shrine!" Stealthily on, the involuntary tread Bears him--he gains the boundary, scales the wall, And midway in the inmost, holiest dome, Strides with adventurous step the daring man. Now halts he where the lifeless Silence sleeps In the embrace of mournful Solitude;-- Silence unstirr'd--save where the guilty tread Call'd the dull echo from mysterious vaults! High from the opening of the dome above, Came with wan smile the silver-shining moon. And, awful as some pale presiding god, Dim-gleaming through the hush of that large gloom, In its wan veil the Giant Image stood.