Poet-Astronomer, who night by night
God's star-page scanned, yet failed to read aright,
Where throughout space His alphabet of suns
Spells Life, in inextinguishable light!

For not, if cycling Time might blot the whole
Of that vast scheme from the illuminated scroll,
The Worlds, incalculable, to rayless void,
Could cease of Man the imperishable Soul.

O finite mind that would the infinite
To challenge seek, and measure! Piteous plight!
How happier the bird of lightest wing,
That soars and trusts the Teacher of its flight!

An empty glass upon a broken shrine,
What matters it? The quaffed or unquaffed wine?
See the clear goblet with what nectar brimmed
From fountains inexhaustible, devine!