This long-past earthly life—so too did theirs.

Henceforward ’tis in that time thou dost seek

To find the causes of thy present life;

But only error can be error’s fruit

If thou art ready to allow thyself

To make the path of duty here and now

Depend upon such vain imaginings.

That Benedictus took from thine own brain,

And placed these visions in an earlier age,

Thine own self’s knowledge can quite clearly prove.