Have been derided, laughed to scorn, by that All-Seer!
What art thou, man? Canst thou in thought with Him compare?
What’s the whole earth? A blade of grass, His might to dare?
A woman, once, through foul adultery’s sin estranged,
By God, in punishment, to Venus’ star was changed.[106]
From woman into Venus? Sure, that change was sad.
To dust and ashes turn. Less shame in this. Art mad?
Thy soul it is must lift thee to heaven’s highest home;
The flesh can but consign thee deep to hell’s dark dome.225
Thyself it is that dooms thee to that woful fate;