Was it a God whose finger drew these signs,

That, with mild pulse of joy, and breath of rest,

Smooth the tumultuous heaving of my breast,

And with mysterious virtue spread the lines

Of Nature’s cipher bare to mortal sight?

Am I a God? so wondrous pure the light

Within me! in these tokens I behold

The powers by which all Nature is besouled.

Now may I reach the sage’s words aright;

“The world of spirits is not barred;