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.

Then purg'd with euphrasy and rue
The visual nerve, for he had much to see.

Then purg'd with euphrasy and rue
The visual nerve, for he had much to see.

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

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

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.

A monster frightful, formless, immense, with sight removed.
[Lat., Monstrum horrendum, informe, ingens, cui lumen ademptum.]

A monster frightful, formless, immense, with sight removed.
[Lat., Monstrum horrendum, informe, ingens, cui lumen ademptum.]

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.

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.

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

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

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

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