EXPERIMENTUM CRUCIS. WITH different colour glows each ray That joins to feed the solar day. Yet, each commingling as they pass, They lose distinction in the mass, Where Iris-hues, grown tintless quite, Stand wondering at their own pure White. Yet prove that White with sifting lens, No more it cheats the dazzled sense; But, re-transmuted to the view, Beams back its red-or green-or blue. Nor less, in every church gregarious, Opinion's colours are as various. Nor less each hue with other locks, To form the pure white Orthodox; That scorns all other shade-sectarian! But if-as philosophic use is To find if what so whitely beams Be, in good sooth, the thing it seems; From moral lens, in varying streak, How soon the lines diverge and break! Observe how rule of faith refracts From doctrine-here; and, there, from facts. How many a lurking tinge comes out; What intersecting lines of doubt. And that broad stripe of scepticism, See, how it flashes from the prism. EXPERIMENTUM CRUCIS. In prudence, now, we break the glass; We must view churches but in mass. Nor split too nicely at the focus Opinions, jumbled hocus-pocus. MORAL. Churches! Churches! hence take heed; And give the tolerance which ye need. Worth no one ray-from wise indulgence. 135 L'ENVOI, TO A POEM ON TOLERANCE. Go! little Book, thine own disciple be, And learn to tolerate those who turn from thee. Go! little Book, and learn to line a trunk. Some rain-bound traveller, in ennui's despair, May cast a moment's notice on thee-there. Thy last sad hope (and pride deserves such shocks) Like hers- - of old at bottom of a box. |