Over earth's slight pageant rolling, The sensitive extension of the world: Where pain and pleasure, good and evil, join And life in multitudinous shapes, Still pressing forward where no term can be, Curls round the eternal columns of its strength." VII. Spirit. I was an infant when my mother went And, as the culprit passed with dauntless mien, Mixed with a quiet smile, shone calmly forth. "Weep not, child !" cried my mother, "for that man Has said 'There is no God."" Fairy. There is no God! Nature confirms the faith his death-groan sealed. Let every part depending on the chain That links it to the whole point to the hand In silent eloquence, unfold its store Of argument. Infinity within, The exterminable spirit it contains Is nature's only God; but human pride Is skilful to invent most serious names The name of God Has fenced about all crime with holiness; Himself the creature of his worshipers ; Whose names and attributes and passions change- Of burning towns, the cries of female helplessness, ป In honour of his name; or, last and worst, Of truth, exterminating, spoiling all, O Spirit! through the sense By which thy inner nature was apprised Of outward shows, vague dreams have rolled, And varied reminiscences have waked Tablets that never fade; All things have been imprinted there, Of wild and fleeting visions Have left a record there To testify of earth. These are my empire, for to me is given The wonders of the human world to keep, With manner, being, and reality; Therefore a wondrous phantom, from the dream Ahasuerus, rise! A strange and woe-worn wight His port and mien bore mark of many years, Were legible within his beamless eye : Yet his cheek bore the mark of youth; Chastened by fearless resignation, gave Spirit. Is there a God? Ahasuerus. Is there a God?-ay, an almighty God, Abhorrence; and the grave of nature yawned That dared to hurl defiance at his throne, Girt as it was with power. None but slaves No honest indignation ever urged To elevated daring, to one deed Which gross and sensual self did not pollute. These slaves built temples for the omnipotent fiend, Gorgeous and vast: the costly altars smoked Through all the long-drawn aisles. A murderer heard Accomplice of omnipotence in crime, These were Jehovah's words: "From an eternity of idleness I, God, awoke; in seven days' toil made earth I placed him in a paradise, and there Might eat and perish, and my soul procure Virtuous or vicious, weak or strong,—even all (Which you, to men, call 'justice') of their God." The murderer's brow Quivered with horror. "God omnipotent, Is there no mercy? must our punishment Be endless? will long ages roll away, And see no term? Oh! wherefore hast thou made In mockery and wrath this evil earth? Mercy becomes the powerful-be but just ! O God! repent and save!" "One way remains. I will beget a son, and he shall bear The sins of all the world. He shall arise In an unnoticed corner of the earth, And there shall die upon a cross, and purge The universal crime; so that the few On whom my grace descends, those who are marked As vessels to the honour of their God, May credit this strange sacrifice, and save Their souls alive. Millions shall live and die But unredeemed go to the gaping grave. Thousands shall deem it an old woman's tale, Or lit with human reason's earthly ray? Many are called, but few will I elect. Even the murderer's cheek Was blanched with horror, and his quivering lips O Spirit! centuries have set their seal On this heart of many wounds, and loaded brain, Of man, scorned by the world, his name unheard Even as a parish demagogue. He led The crowd; he taught them justice, truth, and peace, In semblance; but he lit within their souls The quenchless flames of zeal, and blessed the sword Of truth and freedom his malignant soul. A smile of godlike malice reillumed |