A COLLEGE BREAKFAST-PARTY. 407
Making their absolute and homogene
A loaded relative, a choice to be
Whatever is —supposed : a What is not
The Church demands no more, has standing room
And basis for her doctrine : this (no more) —
That the strong bias which we name the Soul
f hough fed and clad by dissoluble waves, '
Ijas antecedent quality, and rules
By veto or consent the strife of thought,
MaJiiiig arbitrament that we call faith."'
Her3 was brief silence, till young Hamlet spoke
"I c.fave direction. Father, how to know
The sign of that imperative whose right
To sw;iy my act in face of thronging doubts
Were a^ oracular gem in price beyond
Urim ai)d Thummim lost to Israel.
That bias of the soul, that conquering die
Loaded with golden emphasis of Will
How find it where resolve, once made, becomes
The rash exclusion of an opposite
Which draw's the stronger as I turn aloof."
"I think I h.?ar a bias in your words,"
The Priest sa^cl mildly— " that strong natural bent
Which we cal'l hunger. What more positive
Than appetit(- ? — of spirit or of flesh,
I care not — 'sense of need ' were truer phrase.
You hunger fa^r authoritative right.
And yet discern no difference of tones,
No weight of i^od that marks imperial rule ?
Laertes grantij^g, I will put your case
In analogic form : the doctors hold
Hunger which gives no relish — save caprice
That tasting velnison fancies mellow pears
A symptom of (disorder, and prescribe
