MAN is permitted much br To scan and learn br In Nature’s frame; br Till he well-nigh can tame br Brute mischiefs, and can touch br Invisible things, and turn br All warring ills to purposes of good. br Thus, as a god below, br He can control, br And harmonize, what seems amiss to flow br As sever’d from the whole br And dimly understood. br br But o’er the elements br One Hand alone, br One Hand has sway. br What influence day by day br In straiter belt prevents br The impious Ocean, thrown br Alternate o’er the ever-sounding shore? br Or who has eye to trace br How the Plague came? br Forerun the doublings of the Tempest’s race? br Or the Air’s weight and flame br On a set scale explore? br br Thus God has will’d br That man, when fully skill’d, br Still gropes in twilight dim; br Encompass’d all his hours br By fearfullest powers br Inflexible to him. br That so he may discern br His feebleness, br And e’en for earth’s success br To Him in wisdom turn, br Who holds for us the keys of either home, br Earth and the world to come.