and we took, blindly,

through want of heart,

what Egypt brought;

knowing all poison,

what was that or this,

more or less perilous,

than this or that.

We pray you, Egypt,

by what perverse fate,

has poison brought with knowledge,

given us this—

not days of trance,

shadow, fore-doom of death,

but passionate grave thought,

belief enhanced,

ritual returned and magic;

Even in the uttermost black pit

of the forbidden knowledge,

[45]

wisdom's glance,

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