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Lewis Morris (Epic of Hades).

Poems are painted window panes.

If one looks from the square into the church,

Dusk and dimness are his gains—

Sir Philistine is left in the lurch!

The sight, so seen, may well enrage him,

Nor anything henceforth assuage him.

But come just inside what conceals;

Cross the holy threshold quite—

All at once ’tis rainbow-bright,

Device and story flash to light,

A gracious splendour truth reveals.

This to God’s children is full measure,

It edifies and gives you pleasure!

Goethe.

This is George MacDonald’s translation (but never can a translation of poetry reproduce the original). MacDonald says of the poem: “This is true concerning every form in which truth is embodied, whether it be sight or sound, geometric diagram or scientific formula. Unintelligible, it may be dismal enough regarded from the outside; prismatic in its revelation of truth from within.” Among the arts this statement is most applicable to poetry, and hence the reason why notes are often required to assist many persons to “come inside,” to enter into the heart of a poem—to reach the point of vision.