The Ancient Quest

O giant stars, born of eternal light, O winged flames wherewith the void is sown, As dreadful prophets of a God unknown, Ye speak the law in light! Had we but sight to see and comprehend, Your countless fires were as a language plain To tell us all that we have sought in vain; The quest were at an end. O younger worlds, whose tireless-pinioned flight Climbs eagerly the sheer and topless deep! O shrivelled planets that obscurely creep On orbits sunk in night! Alike ye falter in unceasing gloom That shrouds the deathless Truth ye may not find; Alike for ye the flaming suns are blind, And light may not illume. For Life whose God-ambitious eyes would see The stallar-manifested truth sublime, Must gaze with sight immutable as Time, Large as Infinity.