Bugbear of fools, & summons to the brave: Strength found he in the unsympathizing sun, And strange stars from beneath the And the dumb ocean pitilessly grave: But bolder they who first off-cast For all earth's width of waters is a And their convulsed existence mere repose, Matched with the unstable heart of man, Open to every wind of sect or clan, 2. They steered by stars the elder shipmen knew, And laid their courses where the currents draw Of ancient wisdom channelled deep in law, The undaunted few Who changed the Old World for the And more devoutly prized Than all perfection theorized grew. They founded deep and well, In some fine flourish of a pen, Secure against his own mistakes, A cog of iron in an iron wheel, As if he must be other than he seems Postponing Time's slow proof to petu- Yet herein they were great Of hardier growth, alive from rind to core, By making man sole sponsor of himself. 3. God of our fathers, Thou who wast, Thy secret presence shall be lost We, sprung from loins of stalwart men And walk with them a fellow-citizen Than long-considering Nature will or The land to Human Nature dear can, Shall not be unbeloved of Thee. |