* Supposed to be the Prophet Elijah.

What mortal shall consort with Khizr,
when Musa turned in fear to flee?
What man foresees the flow'er or fruit
whom Fate compels to plant the tree?

For Man's Free-will immortal Law,
Anagke, Kismet, Des'tiny read
That was, that is, that aye shall be,
Star, Fortune, Fate, Urd, Norn or Need.

"Man's nat'ural state is God's design;"
such is the silly sage's theme;
"Man's primal Age was Age of Gold;"
such is the Poet's waking dream:

Delusion, Ign'orance! Long ere Man
drew upon Earth his earliest breath
The world was one contin'uous scene
of anguish, torture, prey and Death;

Where hideous Theria of the wild
rended their fellows limb by limb;
Where horrid Saurians of the sea
in waves of blood were wont to swim:

The "fair young Earth" was only fit
to spawn her frightful monster-brood;
Now fiery hot, now icy frore,