Then to himself did Pharaoh think: “O wondrous thing! All night I’ve prayed ‘Good Lord’ to heaven’s Almighty King! In secret I’m humility, a very worm! But when I Moses meet, how greatly changed my form! Base coin, if tenfold gilded o’er with finest gold, Upon the fire when cast, its baseness all behold! Are not my heart and body wholly in his hand? Why brain me, flay me, thus? So cunning, soft, and bland! Commandest Thou me to flourish? As cornfield I’m green. Decreest Thou me to wither? Straight I’m sallow seen. 220 One day I’m bright as full moon; next, as eclipse dark. But is not this of all God’s works the constant mark? ‘Be, and it is!’[295] A bat that drives man on, His laws! Of entity, nonentity, that course is cause! Th’ uncoloured being stained with colour’s various tinge, One Moses ’gainst another’s certain to impinge. If th’ unconditioned state, that was, should e’er return, With Moses Pharaoh, then, may live in peace; not burn.” Does doubt invade thy bosom from this subtle theme? Think! When was colouredness exempt from doubt extreme? 225 The wonder is how colour rose from hueless source; How colour, huelessness, in ceaseless warfare course! The origin of oil is water. This is known. Then why are oil and water foes, as may be shown? From water oil’s created by mysterious power; ’Gainst water why does oil rise up, and war, each hour? The rose springs from a thorn; thorns, from the rose. In open warfare are these two. Why? What suppose? Or is this seeming warfare all a cunning sham, Like donkey-dealers’ wordy strife, some dupe to flam? 230 ’Tis neither this nor that. ’Tis puzzle for the wise. The treasure’s to be sought; the ruin’s ’fore our eyes.[296] That which thou deemest the treasure’s naught but vanity. By deeming it a treasure, makest thou it to flee. Thy deemings and thy thoughts build up a pile too fair; For treasure never lurks where buildings crown the air. “_To edify_” means: “_Being_, _warfare eke_, _to sow_.” Nonentity is shamed with entity’s false show! Not entity ’tis calls for aid. It is the void For restitution asks,--encroachments would avoid! 235 Think not ’tis thou wouldst flee non-entity’s fell grip; Nonentity encroachment dreads from thy short trip. Apparently, it thee invites unto its breast; But really, it repels; club-like is its protest. Know then, dear friend, that Pharaoh’s shrink from Moses’ call Was, really, like a wrong shoe on one’s foot. That’s all. Opinions are agreed ’mongst philosophic folk: “The sky’s an eggshell; in it lies this globe, as yolk.”