And finds with keen, discriminating sight,
Black's not so black--nor white so very white.

And finds with keen, discriminating sight,
Black's not so black--nor white so very white.

The age, wherein he lived was dark; but he
Could not want sight, who taught the world to see.

The age, wherein he lived was dark; but he
Could not want sight, who taught the world to see.

For any man with half an eye,
What stands before him may espy;
But optics sharp it read more

For any man with half an eye,
What stands before him may espy;
But optics sharp it needs I ween,
To see what is not to be seen.

For sight is woman-like and shuns the old.
(Ah! he can see enough, when years are told,
read more

For sight is woman-like and shuns the old.
(Ah! he can see enough, when years are told,
Who backwards looks.)

And every eye
Gaz'd as before some brother of the sky.

And every eye
Gaz'd as before some brother of the sky.

If you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into
you.

If you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into
you.

And for to se, and eek for to be seye.

And for to se, and eek for to be seye.

Two men look out through the same bars:
One sees the mud, and one the stars.

Two men look out through the same bars:
One sees the mud, and one the stars.

We see things not as they are but as we are.

We see things not as they are but as we are.