ks of these.
Eye-witnesses attest, so books declare--
As that, to punish or reward our race,
The sun at undue times arose or set
Or else stood still: what do not men affirm? {405}
But earth requires as urgently reward
Or punishment to-day as years ago,
And none expects the sun will interpose:
Therefore it was mere passion and mistake,
Or erring zeal for right, which changed the truth. {410}
Go back, far, farther, to the birth of things;
Ever the will, the intelligence, the love,
Man's!--which he gives, supposing he but finds,
As late he gave head, body, hands, and feet,
To help these in what forms he called his gods. {415}
First, Jove's brow, Juno's eyes were swept away,
But Jove's wrath, Juno's pride continued long;
At last, will, power, and love discarded these,
So law in turn discards power, love, and will.
What proveth God is otherwise at least? {420}
All else, projection from the mind of man!'

--
367. And let us ask and answer: John's talk, it must be understood,
is with future people, not with the attendants.

368. My book speaks on: that is, to people of all futures,
because it cannot pass away.

371. What truth, etc.: that is, truth is soon perverted, obscured,
and often turned into positive untruth.

372. Wonders, that would prove doctrine: that is, whose purpose was
to prove.

385. Comes to be considered as something outside of,
and distinct from, himself.
--

"Nay, do not give me wine, for I am strong,
But place my gospel where I put my hands.

"I say that man was made to grow, not stop;
That help, he needed once, and needs no more, {425}
Having grown but an inch by, is withdrawn:
For he hath new needs, and new helps to these.
This imports solely, man should mount on each
New height in view; the help whereby he mounts,
The ladder-rung his foot has left, may fall, {430}
Since all things suffer change save God the Truth.
Man apprehends Him newly at each stage
Whereat earth's ladder drops, its service done;
And nothing shall prove twice what once was proved.
You stick a garden-plot with ordered twigs {435}
To show inside lie germs of herbs unborn,
And check the careless step would spoil their birth;
But when herbs wave, t