Tommaso Campanella (1568–1639)

Translated by John Addington Symonds

THE WORLD’S the book where the eternal Sense

Wrote his own thoughts; the living temple where,

Painting his very self, with figures fair

He filled the whole immense circumference.

Here then should each man read, and gazing find

Both how to live and govern, and beware

Of godlessness; and, seeing God all-where,

Be bold to grasp the universal mind.

But we tied down to books and temples dead,—

Copied with countless errors from the life,—

These nobler than that school sublime we call.

O may our senseless souls at length be led

To truth by pain, grief, anguish, trouble, strife!

Turn we to read the one original!