Seeks hot youth, till eld descending,

Leaves unread the secret pending.

What is Life? Truth answers never;

Darkly flows the secret river,

But its springs are hid for ever.

What is Truth? Man’s long endeavour

Finds the web but not the weaver:

Sleeps the riddle none may sever.

As it was in Time’s beginning,

Then, as now, while Fate is spinning