Ware, nor of good nor ill, what aim hath act?
...Without its climax, death, what savour hath
Life? an impeccable machine, exact
...He paces an inane and pointless path
To glut brute appetites, his sole content
...How tedious were he fit to comprehend
Himself! More, this our noble element
...Of fire in nature, love in spirit, unkenned
Life hath no spring, no axle, and no end.
His body a blood-ruby radiant
...With noble passion, sun-souled Lucifer
Swept through the dawn colossal, swift aslant
...On Eden's imbecile perimeter.
He blessed nonentity with every curse
...And spiced with sorrow the dull soul of sense,
Breath life into the sterile universe,
...With Love and Knowledge drove out innocence
The Key of Joy is disobedience.
...Without its climax, death, what savour hath
Life? an impeccable machine, exact
...He paces an inane and pointless path
To glut brute appetites, his sole content
...How tedious were he fit to comprehend
Himself! More, this our noble element
...Of fire in nature, love in spirit, unkenned
Life hath no spring, no axle, and no end.
His body a blood-ruby radiant
...With noble passion, sun-souled Lucifer
Swept through the dawn colossal, swift aslant
...On Eden's imbecile perimeter.
He blessed nonentity with every curse
...And spiced with sorrow the dull soul of sense,
Breath life into the sterile universe,
...With Love and Knowledge drove out innocence
The Key of Joy is disobedience.