[BNP/E3, 49A2 – 56]
26-8-10.
Why dost thou let thee prostitute thy self,
Even in its outwardness, to the world’s ways,
Knowing that Evil’s coppers yet are pelf
And half-abasing still is to abase.
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Even although the mind of the world hit
No deeper than the |outer|[1] of the mind,
Yet in our |being the| consciousness of it
We are worth the {…} |unkind|.[2]
Nor doth it {…} to try our strength’s resistance
Upon the constant[3] of {…} circumstance,
Evil is |subtler| than our wit’s assistance
And though the chinks of moment’s[4]
It is not courage to meet rocks and stones
Save with purposive enigmas, skilled |for| thee.[5]
_________________
Alexander Search
[1] |outer| /skin’s down\
[2] We are worth the {…} |unkind| /We to the pureness in us wax {…} blind\ /We are impure in seeing /feeling\ /that we are not blind\\.
[3] Upon the constant /filth\ /On the active presence\
[4] And though the chinks of moment’s /Through idle moments’ chinks it does /doth\ advance\
[5] It is not courage/‘Tis a mad boldness /strength\\ to meet /to hit /self-fight\\ rocks and stones /seas\
Save with purposive /thought-proposed\ enigmas, and skilled |for| /to\ thee.
