“When Truth and Reason are our friends, we seem
Alive! awake! - the superstitious dream.
Oh! then, fair truth, for thee alone I seek,
Friend to the wise, supporter of the weak;
From thee we learn whate’er is right and just:
Forms to despise, professions to distrust;
Creeds to reject, pretensions to deride,
And, following thee, to follow none beside.”
Such was the speech: it struck upon the ear
Like sudden thunder none expect to hear.