Índice Geral das Seções   Índice da Seção Atual   Índice da Obra Atual   Anterior: 11. A Guerra   Seguinte: 13. “Pois Meu Filho Estava Morto, e Vive Novamente; Estava Perdido, e o Encontrei”

 

 

(p. 41)

 

12.

 

UMA VISÃO DE FILOSOFIA

 

            I LAY all night in dreams, and heard

            The storm on sounding pinions sweep

            The far-off caverns of the deep,

            And dying float into the height.

            But upward through the thunder, came

            Strange voices calling on my name,

            Till all my soul within me stirred,

            And through the shadowy gates of sleep

            Passed out into the open night.

 

            Then all the air was filled with sound;

            O’erhead the storm tumultuous shook

            The walls of heaven, to and fro

            Swept the mad winds, and all around

            The wrangling tongues of tempest woke

            Shrill echoes, and through darkness broke

            Harsh discord, –– melody sublime

            Confused in clamour, but below

            Like distant thunder, ceaseless spoke

(p. 42)

            The ever-sounding sea of Time.

            Then while I mused what this should be,

            Came upward on the hurricane

            A cry as of a child in pain,

            And like a curtain, under me

            The parted shadows of the night

            Rolled backward from the open sea,

            And with the eyes of inward sight

            My soul beheld a mystery.

 

            For so it seemed, that while I gazed,

            Full in their midst the waters bore

            Through swirling surge and tempest wild

            A struggling boat, and Io! a child, ––

            A tiny child with hands upraised,

            Stood by the helm, and evermore

            ’Mid the black night and starless sky,

            Went upward that incessant cry.

 

            “Philosophy! Philosophy!

            Alas! what art thou unto me?

            Where is thy boast, the promised goal,

            The golden rest beyond the sea?

            Or what of good far off shall be,

            To fill the void within my soul?

 

            “I hear the storm go to and fro,

            The shuddering waters sink and swell,

            I feel the darkness round me grow,

(p. 43)

            The mocking darkness and the night;

            But only these, nor can I tell

            What hangs above, –– what lies below,

            I know nor depth, nor breadth, nor height.

 

            “What do I here, if this be all?

            Methinks ’twere sweeter not to be,

            Sweeter to cease, and ceasing fall

            Like vapour to the winds, and blend

            Myself in chaos, for I find,

            Philosophy, thou hast an end

            With mortal life and human mind,

            Nor can thine eyes of wisdom see Farther.”

                                               Then from the distant shore

            Answered the voices of the wild,

            And through the darkness passed along

            A sound as of a far-off cry;

            One word of echo, and no more,

            Like a lost note of melody,

            The key-note of some wondrous song

            Borne downward on a sudden blast, ––

            “Father!” –– and into silence passed.

 

            Then from my soul there came a sigh,

            “O weary waiting heart!” said I,

            “Who answered from the distant shore?

            It was the echo, and no more; ––

            The echo, –– though it seemed reply.”

(p. 44)

            But Io! a voice that answered me

            Close in my ear, –– “Look down and see

            The end of thy philosophy,

            O man! for GOD HAS CEASED TO BE;

            And know how idly thou hast dreamed.”

            And straightway in my sleep it seemed

            My eyes were opened, for I saw

            The universe without a law,

            Headlong through horrid darkness hurled,

            And at my feet the groaning world

            Tottered upon its poles and fell

            A shattered mass, from hell to hell.

            Star crashed on star, and systems broke, ––

            I saw, I shuddered and awoke.

 

            Then like a giant rose my soul

            Within me, and I understood

            How all things strong, and wise, and good,

            Are centred in one perfect Whole,

            One living Love within the Heart

            Of One great FATHER Whom in part

            We know as GOD, but know no more,

            And knowing, narrowly adore.

 

 

Índice Geral das Seções   Índice da Seção Atual   Índice da Obra Atual   Anterior: 11. A Guerra   Seguinte: 13. “Pois Meu Filho Estava Morto, e Vive Novamente; Estava Perdido, e o Encontrei”