136 THE BRAHMIN. 



All, save the sage, — to studious thought resigned, 

 God's awful spirit filled his labouring mind ; 

 All seemed revealed by that internal light. 

 His power. His goodness, — all was infinite ! 

 Fountain of Truth ! diffusing through the whole 

 That moral sense which warmed the Brahmin's soul 

 And bade him to each thirsty mind dispense 

 The hallowed drops of pure benevolence. 

 But 'mid that crowd of hearers, one had heard 

 Unmoved, the teacher's monitory word ; 

 He, from the shores of Europe, zealous brought 

 Christ's purer faith, and Christ's salvation taught: 

 Long pondering o'er the Brahmin's law, he stood, 

 Vague maxims ! wrought of evil and of good. 

 How should he best with Error's zeal contend. 

 Yet leave untouched the truths he could not mend ? 

 Soon as the raptured mood of thought was past, 

 And human feeling found its way at last, 

 With microscopic lens, he bade the sage 

 Read mighty Nature's undiscovered page ; 

 How, in each speck of air, or drop of dew, 

 Dwell living myriads, eye could never view; 

 Seen not, save when the artist, Science, brings 

 Her wondrous aid, and shows undreamed-of things. 

 On every leaf what swarming nations dwell, 

 Or range at large, within a floweret's cell ! 

 In vain the hope to breathe, yet still avoid 

 The crime, if heaven avenge each life destroyed. 

 " Simple thy fare, — but mark ! each herb and tree 

 Sustains a race that dies to nourish thee. 

 And though thy drink the crystal wave supply. 

 See, in each draught what harmless beings die. 

 Think then ; could Brahma e'er that law ordain 

 Man could not keep ; and make his mandate vain ? 

 Did He those forms create, and also thee, 

 Yet bid thy life from guilt like this be free? 

 Know then a wiser Faith ! and gather thence 

 The rules of God's eternal providence : 

 No favorite race is His — no chosen land — 

 All human-kind partake His guardian hand: 

 From Him no rigid laws, oh Brahmin ! flow, 

 Mercy and truth are His, where'er we go; 



