Veritatem Dilexi
(In Memoriam—Ernest Renan)
"Truth is an Idol," spake the Christian sage.
"Thou shalt not worship Truth divorced from Love.
Truth is but God's reflection: Look above!"
So Pascal wrote, and still we muse the page.
"Truth is divine," said Plato, "but on high
She dwells, and few may be her ministers,
For Truth is sad and lonely and diverse:
Heal thou the weakling with a generous lie! "
But thou in Truth delightedst! Thou of soul
As subtle-shimmering as the rainbow mist.
And still in all her service didst persist.
For no one truth thou lovedst, but the Whole.
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