26 THE PHILOSOPHY OF EVOLUTION 



submission and self-dedication demanded by the scientific 

 spirit of religion ; the hymn expresses its aspiration and 

 enthusiasm. How far Goethe had studied the works of 

 Giordano Bruno I know not, but in these stanzas he conveys, 

 frigidly perhaps, yet faithfully, something of the burning faith 

 which animated that extraordinary prophet of the scientific 

 creed. 1 



To Him, who from eternity, self-stirred, 

 Himself hath made by His creative word ! 

 To Him, Supreme, who causeth faith to be, 

 Trust, love, hope, power, end endless energy ! 

 To Him, who, seek to name Him as we will, 

 Unknown within Himself, abideth still ! 



Strain ear and eye, till sight and sense be dim ; 



Thou'lt find but faint similitudes of Him : 



Yea, and thy spirit, in her flight of flame, 



Still strives to gauge the symbol and the name : 



Charmed and compelled, thou climb'st from height to height, 



And round thy path the world shines wondrous bright ; 



Time, space, and size, and distance cease to be, 



And every step is fresh infinity. 



What were the God who sat outside to scan 

 The spheres that 'neath His fingers circling ran ? 

 God dwells within and moves the world and moulds, 

 Himself and Nature in one form enfolds ; 

 Thus all that lives in Him, and breathes, and is, 

 Shall ne'er His puissance, ne'er His spirit miss. 



The soul of man, too, is an universe ; 



Whence follows it that race with race concurs 



In naming all it knows of good and true, 



God yea, its own God ; and with homage due, 



Surrenders to His sway both earth and heaven ; 



Fears Him, and loves, where place for love is given. 



1 The translation of Goethe's Proemium to Gott und Wdlt, which 

 allows above, was made by me many years ago, and was first printed in 

 the Spectator. It gave me pleasure when Professor Tyndall quoted it in 

 one of his volumes of essays, as expressing the religion to which Science 

 can ally itself. 



