(When the faint dust-speck flits, ye guess its wing,)
Is marvellous beyond dead Atlas' self—
Given to the nobler midge for resting-place!
Thus, man proves best and highest—God, in fine,
And thus the victory leads but to defeat,
The gain to loss, best rise to the worst fall,
His life becomes impossible, which is death.
"But if, appealing thence, he cower, avouch
He is mere man, and in humility
Neither may know God nor mistake himself;