Poetry · Chapter
CLV explained
A brief philosophical exchange between two personified figures, Wisdom and Knowledge, who meet at an intersection of paths and ponder whether they will ever travel the same road together, reflecting on the nature of their names and understa
What happens
A brief philosophical exchange between two personified figures, Wisdom and Knowledge, who meet at an intersection of paths and ponder whether they will ever travel the same road together, reflecting on the nature of their names and understanding.
Key passages
“God keep thee, stranger; what is thy name?”
May God protect you, stranger; what is your name?
Opening greeting and inquiry between two unnamed figures.
“Wisdom. And thine?”
Wisdom. And yours?
First figure identifies as Wisdom.
“Knowledge. How does it happen that we meet?”
Knowledge. How is it that we encounter each other?
Second figure identifies as Knowledge and questions the meeting.
“This is an intersection of our paths.”
This is where our paths cross.
Wisdom explains the meeting as a crossing of paths.
“Will it ever be decreed that we travel always the same road?”
Will it ever be ordained that we always travel together?
Knowledge wonders if they will ever share a single path.
“We were well named if we knew.”
We were appropriately named if we understood.
Wisdom suggests that true understanding would validate their names.