Husked lupines, and belike the feeder's self

—Whose purpose in the dole what ass divines?"

"Friend," quoth Ferishtah, "all I seem to know

Is—I know nothing save that love I can

Boundlessly, endlessly. My curls were crowned

In youth with knowledge,—off, alas, crown slipped

Next moment, pushed by better knowledge still

Which nowise proved more constant: gain, to-day,

Was toppling loss to-morrow, lay at last

—Knowledge, the golden?—lacquered ignorance!