Shortly after the final meditation in which he summed up the whole issue of his inquiry, Paul wrote a poem in which he made it clear to himself, though with a certain bitterness, that he cared more for the music which is spirit than for the human or any other instrument. In the final couplet there appears the self-conscious disillusionment which is characteristic of your age.

If man encounter

on his proud adventure

other intelligence?

If mind more able

ranging among the galaxies,

noose this colt and break him

to be a beast of draught and burden

for ends beyond him?

If man’s aim and his passion be ludicrous