Who loves not Knowledge? Who shall rail
    Against her beauty? [May she mix
    With men and prosper! Who shall fix
Her pillars?]1 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.]1

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.]1

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.