ASCENSION DAY 
13
One year’s effect, one moment’s cause; 
What mind could estimate such laws ? 
Who then (much more !) may act aright  
Judged by and in ten centuries’ sight? 
(Yet I believe, whate’er we do 
Is best for me and best for you 
And best for all : I line no brow 
With wrinkles, meditating how.) 
 
Well, but another way remains.  
Shall we expound the cosmic plan 
By symbolising God and man 
And nature thus?  As man contains 
Cells, nerves, grey matter in his brains, 
Each cell a life, self-centred, free 
Yet self-subordinate to the whole 
For its own sake—expand !—so we 
Molecules of a central soul, 
Time’s sons, judged by Eternity. 
Nature is gone—our joys, our pains, 
Our little lives—and God remains. 
Were this the truth—why ! worship then 
Were not so imbecile for men! 
But that’s no Christian faith !  For where 
Enters the dogma of despair ? 
Despite his logic’s silver flow 
I must count Caird62 a mystic !  No ! 
You Christians shall not mask me so 
The plain words of your sacred books 
Behind friend Swedenborg his spooks ! 
Says Huxley63 in his works (q. v.) 
“The microcosmic lives change daily 
In state or body”—yet you gaily 
Arm a false Hegel cap-à-pie— 
Your self, his weapons—make him wear 
False favours of a ladye fayre 
(The scarlet woman !) bray and blare 
A false note on the trumpet, shout : 
“A champion ?  Faith’s defender !  Out ! 
Sceptic and sinner !  See me !  Quail I ?” 
I cite the Little-go.  You stare, 
And have no further use for Paley ! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Caird’s inter-
pretation of 
Hegel.  His 
identification  
of it with Chris-
tianity proved 
to be mystical.  
His interpreta-
tion false. 
420
 
 
425
 
430
435
440
445
450
455