Who loves not Knowledge? Who shall rail

Who loves not Knowledge? Who shall rail

Against her beauty? [May she mix

With men and prosper! Who shall fix

Her pillars?] Let her work prevail.

But on her forehead sits a fire:

[She sets her forward countenance

And leaps into the future chance,

Submitting all things to desire.]

Half-grown as yet, a child, and vain --

She cannot fight the fear of death.

What is she, cut from love and faith,

But some wild Pallas from the brain

Of Demons? [fiery-hot to burst

All barriers in her onward race

For power. Let her know her place;

She is the second, not the first.]

A higher hand must make her mild,

If all be not in vain; and guide

Her footsteps, moving side by side

With wisdom, like the younger child:

For she is earthly of the mind,

But Wisdom heavenly of the soul.

O, friend, who camest to thy goal

So early, leaving me behind,

I would the great world grew like thee,

Who grewest not alone in power

And knowledge, but by year and hour

In reverence and in charity.