Hailest without regret—much less, dismay—
"The hour of thine approximate release
From fleshly bondage soul hath found obstruct?
Calmly envisagest the sure increase
"Of knowledge? Eden's tree must hold unplucked
Some apple, sure, has never tried thy tooth,
Juicy with sapience thou hast sought, not sucked?
"Say, does age acquiesce in vanished youth?
Still towers thy purity above—as erst—
Our pleasant follies? Be thy last word—truth!"