Part 14 (2/2)

III.

_THE UNIVERSE._

_Il mondo e un animal._

The world's a living creature, whole and great, G.o.d's image, praising G.o.d whose type it is; We are imperfect worms, vile families, That in its belly have our low estate.

If we know not its love, its intellect, Neither the worm within my belly seeks To know me, but his petty mischief wreaks:-- Thus it behoves us to be circ.u.mspect.

Again, the earth is a great animal, Within the greatest; we are like the lice Upon its body, doing harm as they.

Proud men, lift up your eyes; on you I call: Measure each being's worth; and thence be wise; Learning what part in the great scheme you play!

IV.

_THE SOUL._

_Dentro un pugno di cervel._

A handful of brain holds me: I consume So much that all the books the world contains, Cannot allay my furious famine-pains:-- What feasts were mine! Yet hunger is my doom.

With one world Aristarchus fed my greed; This finished, others Metrodorus gave; Yet, stirred by restless yearning, still I crave: The more I know, the more to learn I need.

Thus I'm an image of that Sire in whom All beings are, like fishes in the sea; That one true object of the loving mind.

Reasoning may reach Him, like a shaft shot home; The Church may guide; but only blest is he Who loses self in G.o.d, G.o.d's self to find.

V.

_THE BOOK OF NATURE._

_Il mondo e il libro._

The world's the book where the eternal Sense Wrote his own thoughts; the living temple where, Painting his very self, with figures fair He filled the whole immense circ.u.mference.

Here then should each man read, and gazing find Both how to live and govern, and beware Of G.o.dlessness; and, seeing G.o.d all-where, Be bold to grasp the universal mind.

But we tied down to books and temples dead, Copied with countless errors from the life,-- These n.o.bler than that school sublime we call.

O may our senseless souls at length be led To truth by pain, grief, anguish, trouble, strife!

Turn we to read the one original!

VI.

<script>