But now my belief in God's governance doth add amazement to amazement.

For, seeing that He sometimes assigns fair fortune to the good and harsh fortune to the bad, and then again deals harshly with the good, and grants to the bad their hearts' desire, how does this differ from chance, unless some reason is discovered for it all ?' 'Nay; it is not wonderful,' said she, 'if all should be thought random and confused when the principle of order is not known.

And though thou knowest not the causes on which this great system depends, yet forasmuch as a good ruler governs the world, doubt not for thy part that all is rightly done.' SONG V.
WONDER AND IGNORANCE.
Who knoweth not how near the pole Bootes' course doth go, Must marvel by what heavenly law He moves his Wain so slow; Why late he plunges 'neath the main, And swiftly lights his beams again.
When the full-orbed moon grows pale In the mid course of night, And suddenly the stars shine forth That languished in her light, Th' astonied nations stand at gaze, And beat the air in wild amaze.[M] None marvels why upon the shore The storm-lashed breakers beat, Nor why the frost-bound glaciers melt At summer's fervent heat; For here the cause seems plain and clear, Only what's dark and hid we fear.
Weak-minded folly magnifies All that is rare and strange, And the dull herd's o'erwhelmed with awe At unexpected change.
But wonder leaves enlightened minds, When ignorance no longer blinds.
FOOTNOTES: [M] To frighten away the monster swallowing the moon.

The superstition was once common.

See Tylor's 'Primitive Culture,' pp.