Page:Modern poets and poetry of Spain.djvu/74

28 But only sinking, all absorb'd may see

In the abysses of eternity.

&ensp;Perhaps, thence stepping more disorder'd yet,

He rushes his presumptuous flight to set

Ev'n to the throne of God! with his dim eyes

The Great Inscrutable to scrutinize;

Sounding the gulf immense, that circles round

The Deity, he ventures o'er its bound.

What can he gain in such a pathless course

But endless doubts, his ignorance the source?

He seeks, proposes, argues, thinking vain,

The ignorance that knew to raise, must fain

Be able to resolve them. Hast thou seen

Attempts that e'er have more audacious been?

What! shall an atom such as he excel

To comprehend the Incomprehensible?

Without more light than reason him assign'd,

The limits of immensity to find?

Infinity's beginning, middle, end?

Dost Thou, Eternal Lord, then condescend

To admit man to Thy councils, or to be

With his poor reason in Thy sanctuary?

A task so great as this dost Thou confide

To his weak soul? 'Tis not so, be relied,

My friend. To know God in His works above,

To adore Him, melt in gratitude and love;