Since I believe in God the Father Almighty, Man's Maker and Judge, Overruler of Fortune, 'Twere strange should I praise anything and refuse Him praise, Should love the creature forgetting the Crēator, Nor unto Him[v]in suff'ring and sorrow turn me: Nay how coud I withdraw me from[v]His embracing? But since that I have seen not, and cannot know Him, Nor in my earthly temple apprehend rightly His wisdom and the heav'nly purpose ēternal; Therefore will I be bound to no studied system Nor argument, nor with delusion enslave me, Nor seek to pléase Him in any foolish invention, Which my spirit within me, that loveth beauty And hateth evil, hath reprov'd as unworthy: But I cherish my freedom in loving service, Gratefully adoring for delight beyond asking Or thinking, and in hours of anguish and darkness Confiding always on[v]His excellent greatness. 8 PYTHAGORAS _Seasons_ Thou vainly, O Man, self-deceiver, exaltest Thyself the king and only thinker of this world, Where life aboundeth infinite to destroy thee. Well-guided are thy forces and govern'd bravely, But like a tyrant crūel or savage monster Thou disregardest ignorantly all bēing Save only thine own insubordinate ruling: As if the flowër held not a happy pact with Spring; As if the brutes lack'd reason and sorrow's torment; Or ev'n divine love from the small atoms grew not, Their grave affection unto thy passion mingling. * * * An truly were it nobler and better wisdom To fear the blind thing blindly, lest it espy thee; And scrupulously do[v]honour to dumb creatures, No one offending impiously, nor forcing To service of vile uses; ordering rather Thy slave to beauty, compelling lovingkindness. So should desire, the only priestess of Nature Divinely inspir'd, like a good monarch rule thee, And lead thee onward in the consummate motion Of life eternal unto heav'nly perfection. _Elegiacs_ 9 AMIEL