“Inquirest thou the poet’s creed? ’Twas brief, but served his utmost need: Truth is divine, wherever found, On Christian or on pagan ground; Engraven on the hearts of men Are God’s commandments, more than ten; The universe his laws proclaim, To learn them be my constant aim; Goodness and mercy, holy these In Jesus or in Socrates; The glory of an earthly span Is service to our fellow man. ’Twas thus with chastened heart he thought, Nor cared what theologians taught; And if he erred to an excess In not believing more, or less, Ye who accuse, depart in fear, And spare his bones your censure here. If your own merits far excel The poet’s troubled life, ’tis well. If in a truer light you live, Go! learn to pity and forgive.”
The End.
Transcriber’s Notes:
Typographical errors have been silently corrected..
Footnotes have been moved to the end of the poem in which they occur.