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Our Inquest turns.—Accord, good Sir! the light
Of your experience, to dispel this gloom.
By your persuasive wisdom shall the Heart
That frets, or languishes, be stilled and cheered."
"Our Nature," said the Priest, in mild reply,
"Angels may weigh and fathom: they perceive,
With undistempered and unclouded spirit,
The object as it is; but, for ourselves,
That speculative height we may not reach.
The good and evil are our own; and we
Are that which we would contemplate from far.
Knowledge, for us, is difficult to gain—
Is difficult to gain and hard to keep—
As Virtue's self; like Virtue is beset
With snares; tried, tempted, subject to decay.
Love, admiration, fear, desire, and hate,
Blind were we without these; through these alone
Are capable to notice or discern
Or to record; we judge, but cannot be
Indifferent judges. 'Spite of proudest boast
Reason, best Reason, is to imperfect Man
An effort only, and a noble aim;
