52 FRAGMENTS OF SCIENCE. 



time, to disappear. And the sooner the public dread is 

 abolished with reference to such questions the better 

 for the cause of truth. As regards knowledge, physi- 

 cal science is polar. In one sense it knows, or is des- 

 tined to know, everything. In another case it knows 

 nothing. Science understands much of this inter- 

 mediate phase of things that we call nature, of which 

 it is the product; but science knows nothing of the 

 origin or destiny of nature. Who or what made the 

 sun, and gave his rays their alleged power? Who or 

 what made and bestowed upon the ultimate particles of 

 matter their wondrous power of varied interaction? 

 Science does not know: the mystery, though pushed 

 back, remains unaltered. To many of us who feel that 

 there are more things in heaven and earth than are 

 dreamt of in the present philosophy of science, but 

 who have been also taught, by baffled efforts, how vain 

 is the attempt to grapple with the Inscrutable, the 

 ultimate frame of mind is that of Goethe: 



Who dares to name His name, 



Or belief in Him proclaim, 



Veiled in mystery as He is, the All-enf older f 



Gleams across the mind His light, 



Feels the lifted soul His might, 



Dare it then deny His reign, the All-upholder? 



