THE KASÎDAH IX, 49, 60

Better the myriad toils and pains
 that make the man to manhood true,
This be the rule that guideth life;
 these be the laws for me and you:

With Ignor’ance wage eternal war,
 to know thy self forever strain,
Thine ignorance of thine ignorance is
 thy fiercest foe, thy deadliest bane;

That blunts thy sense, and dulls thy taste;
 that deafs thine ears, and blinds thine eyes;
Creates the thing that never was,
 the Thing that ever is defies.

THE KASÎDAH V, 61,72

Where then “Th’ Eternal nature-law
 by God engraved on human heart?”
Behold his simiad sconce and own
 the Thing could play no higher part.

Yet, as long ages rolled, he learnt
 from Beaver, Ape and Ant to build
Shelter for sire and dam and brood,
 from blast and blaze that hurt and killed;

And last came Fire; when scrap of stone
 cast on the flame that lit his den,
Gave out the shining ore, and made
 the Lord of beasts a Lord of men.