Like a submissive lover with no will of its own.

When you strike steel on flint fire leaps forth;

But ’tis by God’s command it thus steps forth.

Strike not together the flint and steel of wrong,

For the pair will generate more, like man and woman.

The flint and steel are themselves causes, yet

Look higher for the First Cause, O righteous man!

For that Cause precedes this second cause.

How can a cause exist of itself without precedent cause?

That Cause makes this cause operative,