LOUIS AGASSIZ 165 



Trying with uncertain key 



Door by door of mystery; 



We are reaching, through His laws, 



To the garment-hem of Cause 



Him, the endless, unbegun, 



The Unnamable, the One 



Light of all our light the Source, 



Life of life, and Force of force. 



As with fingers of the blind, 



We are groping here to find 



What the hieroglyphics mean 



Of the Unseen in the seen, 



What the thought which underlies 



Nature's masking and disguise, 



What it is that hides beneath 



Blight and bloom and birth and death. 



By past efforts unavailing, 



Doubt and error, loss and failing, 



Of our weakness made aware, 



On the threshold of our task 



Let us light and guidance ask, 



Let us pause in silent prayer!" 



* * . * * * * * 



Even the careless heart was moved, 



And the doubting gave assent 



With a gesture reverent, 



To the Master well beloved. 



As thin mists are glorified 



By the light they cannot hide, 



All who gazed upon him saw, 



Through its vail of tender awe, 



How his face was still uplit 



By the old sweet look of it, 



Hopeful, trustful, full of cheer, 



And the love that casts out fear. 



" And the summer went on with its succession of joyous morn- 

 ings, beautiful days, and calm nights, with every charm of sea and 



