The pith of Life is contained in action, To delight in creation is the law of Life. 1020 Arise and create a new world! Wrap thyself in flames, be an Abraham![80] To comply with this ill-starred world Is to fling away thy buckler on the field of battle. The man of strong character who is master of himself 1025 Will find Fortune complaisant. If the world does not comply with his humour, He will try the hazard of war with Heaven; He will dig up the foundations of the universe And cast its atoms into a new mould. 1030 He will subvert the course of Time And wreck the azure firmament. By his own strength he will produce A new world which will do his pleasure. If one cannot live in the world as beseems a man, 1035 It is true life to give up one’s soul. He that hath sound intelligence Will prove his strength by great enterprises. ‘Tis sweet to use love in hard tasks And, like Abraham, to gather roses from flames.[81] 1040 The potentialities of men of action Are displayed in willing acceptance of what is difficult. Mean spirits have no weapon but spite, This is their one rule of life. But Life is power made manifest, 1045 And its mainspring is the desire for victory. Mercy out of season is a coldness of Life’s blood, A break in the rhythm of Life’s music. Whoever is sunk in the depths of ignominy Calls his weakness contentment. 1050 Weakness is the plunderer of Life, Its womb is teeming with fears and lies. Its soul is empty of virtues, Its milk is a fattening for vices. O man of sound judgement, beware! 1055 This spoiler is lurking in ambush. Be not his dupe, if thou art wise: Chameleon-like, he changes colour every moment. Even by keen observers his form is not discerned: Veils are thrown over his face. 1060 Now he is muffled in pity and gentleness, Now he wears the cloak of humility. Sometimes he is disguised as a victim of oppression, Sometimes as one whose sins are to be excused. He appears in the shape of self-indulgence 1065 And robs the strong man’s heart of courage. Strength is the twin of Truth; If thou knowest thyself, strength is the Truth-revealing glass. Life is the seed, and power the crop: Power explains the mystery of truth and falsehood. 1070 The false claimant, if he be possessed of power, Needs no argument for his claim. Falsehood derives from power the authority of truth, And by falsifying truth deems itself true. Its creative word transforms poison into nectar; 1075 It says to Good, “Thou art bad,” and Good becomes Evil. O thou that art heedless of the trust committed to thee, Esteem thyself superior to both worlds![82]