Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, VERITATEM DILEXI (IN MEMORIAM - ERNEST RENAN), by AGNES MARY F. ROBINSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

VERITATEM DILEXI (IN MEMORIAM - ERNEST RENAN), by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Truth is an idol,' spake the christian sage
Last Line: For no one truth thou lovedst, but the whole.
Alternate Author Name(s): Duclaux, Madame Emile; Darmesteter, Mary; Robinson, A. Mary F.
Variant Title(s): Ernest Renan
Subject(s): Renan, Joseph Ernest (1823-1892); Truth


"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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