CUERVO - Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia

86 PARACELSUS
Festus. 'Tis no encouraging picture : still these few
Redeem their fellows. Once implant the germ,
Its growth, if slow, is sure.
Paracelsus. God grant it so I
I would make some amends: but if I fail,
The luckless rogues have this excuse to urge,
That much is in my method and my manner,
My uncouth habits, my impatient spirit,
Which hinders of reception and result
My doctrine: much to say, small skill to speak I
Those old aims suffered not a looking-oll,
Though for an instant; therefore, only when
I thus renounced them and resolved to reap
Some present fruit-to teach mankind some truth
So dearly purchased-only then I found
Such teaching was an art requiring cares
And qualities peculiar to itself ;
That to possess was one thing-to display,
Another. Had renown been in my thoughts,
Or popular praise, I had soon discovered it !
One grows but little apt to learn these things.
Festus. If it be so, which nowise I believe,
There needs no waiting fuller dispensation
To leave a labour to so little use:
Why not throw up the irksome charge at once?
Paracelsus. A task, a task! . . .
But wherefore hide from you
The whole extent of degradation, once
Engaged in the confession? Spite of all
My fine talk of obedience, and repugnance,
Docility, and what not, 'tis yet to learn
If when the old task really is performed,
And my will free once more, to choose anew,
I shall do aught but slightly modify
The nature of the hated one I quit.
In plain words, I am spoiled: my life still tends
As first it tended. I am broken and trained
To myoid habits; they are part of me.
I know, and none so well, my darling ends
Are proved impossible: no less, no less,
Even now what humours me, fond fool, as when
Their faint ghosts sit with me, and flatter me,
And send me back content to my dull round?
How can I change this soul ?-this apparatus
Constructed solely for their purposes
So well adapted to their every want,
To search out and discover, prove and perfect;
This intricate machine, whose most minute,
Least obvious motions have their charm to me
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