If He, Eterne, Be ordering of His far infinitudes, And darkness cloud a world, it is but chance, As if the shadow of His hand had fallen On one that He forgot, and troubled it." Then said the Master, "Yet,--who told thee so ?" And from his dais the feigning serpent hissed: "Preacher, the light within, it was that shined, And told him so.

The pious will have dread Him to declare such as ye rashly told.
The course of God is one.

It likes not us To think of Him as being acquaint with change: It were beneath Him.

Nay, the finished earth Is left to her great masters.

They must rule; They do; and I have set myself between,-- A visible thing for worship, sith His face (For He is hard) He showeth not to men.
Yea, I have set myself 'twixt God and man, To be interpreter, and teach mankind A pious lesson by my piety, He loveth not, nor hateth, nor desires,-- It were beneath Him." And the Master said, "Thou liest.