"Tush!" quoth the Zahid, "well we ken
the teaching of the school abhorr'd
"That maketh man automaton,
mind a secretion, soul a word."

"Of molecules and protoplasm
you matter-mongers prompt to prate;
"Of jelly-speck development
and apes that grew to man's estate."

Vain cavil! all that is hath come
either by Mir'acle or by Law;--
Why waste on this your hate and fear,
why waste on that your love and awe?

Why heap such hatred on a word,
why "Prototype" to type assign,
Why upon matter spirit mass?
wants an appendix your design?

Is not the highest honour his
who from the worst hath drawn the best;
May not your Maker make the world
from matter, an it suit His hest?

Nay more, the sordider the stuff
the cunninger the workman's hand:
Cease, then, your own Almighty Power
to bind, to bound, to understand.