The Words of Delusion

THREE Words are heard with the Good and Blameless,
Three ruinous words and vain —
Their sound is hollow — their use is aimless —
They cannot console and sustain.
Man's path is a path of thorns and troubles
So long as he chases these vagrant bubbles.

So long as he hopes that Triumph and Treasure
Will yet be the guerdon of Worth: —
Both are dealt out to Baseness in lavishest measure;
The Worthy possess not the earth —
They are exiled spirits and strangers here,
And look for their home to a purer sphere.

So long as lie dreams that On clay-made creatures
The noonbeams of Truth will shine: —
No mortal may lift up the veil from her features;
On earth we but guess and opine:
Wo prison her vainly in pompous words:
She is riot our handmaid — she is the Lord's.
So long as he sighs for a Golden Era,
When Good will be victress o'er III:
The triumph of Good is an idiot's chimera;
She never can combat — nor will:
The Foe must contend and o'ermaster, till, cloyed
By destruction, he perishes, self-destroyed.

Then, Man! through Life's labyrinths winding and darkened,
Take, dare to take, Faith as thy clue!
THAT WHICH EYE NEVER SAW, TO WHICH EAR NEVER
HEARKENED,
THAT, THAT is THE BEAUTEOUS AND TRUE!
It is not without — let the fool seek it there —
It is in thine own bosom and heart — the Perfect, the
Good, and the Fair!