Page:The poems of George Eliot (Crowell, 1884).djvu/445

 A COLLEGE BREAKFAST-PARTY. 409

In lasting failure of the search elsewhere

For what it holds to satisfy man's need.

But I grow lengthy : my excuse must be

Your question. Hamlet, which has probed right through

To the pith of our belief. And I have robbed

3[yself of pleasure as a listener.

'T is noon. I see : and my appointment stands

For half-past twelve with Voltimand. Good-by."

Brief parting, brief regret — sincere, but quenched

In fumes of best Havana, which consoles

For lack of other certitude. Then said,

Mildly sarcastic, quiet Guildenstern :

'- 1 marvel how the Father gave new charm

To weak conclusions : I was half convinced

The poorest reasoner made the finest man.

And held his logic lovelier for its limp."

'• I fain would hear," said Hamlet, •• how you find

A stronger footing than the Father gave.

How base your self-resistance save on faith

In some invisible Order, higher Eight

Than changing impulse. What does Eeason bid ?

To take as fullest rationality

"What offers best solution : so the Church.

Science, detecting hydrogen aflame

Outside our firmament, leaves mystery

Whole and untouched beyond ; nay. in our blood

And in the potent atoms of each germ

The Secret lives — envelops, penetrates

Whatever sense perceives or thought divines.

Science, whose soul is explanation, halts

With hostile front at mystery. The Church

Takes mystery a5 her empire, brings its wealth

Of possibility to fiU the void