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148
CHORUSES
FROM A POLITICAL POEM
1848
Through thy pain, and through the languor
Of despair, and from the anger
Of long-disappointed hope,
Thou, O Human World! redeeming,
The pale phantoms of thy dreaming,
Shalt have strength with Time to cope.
Though thy weary feet be tender,
Though thy lids bear not the splendour
Of the Coming of thy Lord,
Yet, fond Hope! shalt thou behold him,
And thy powerful arms enfold him,
And thou know thyself adored.
Yet shall Love, O Hope pursuing!
On thy heart his life renewing,
Speed with thee his tireless flight;
And the wake of his star-tresses
O'er earth's untrack'd wildernesses
Guide Man to the far delight.
Lo! I hear the acclamations
Of the Faith-awaken'd Nations;
And the sweet low-chaunted song
Of their organized endeavour:
It soars upward ever, ever,
On the swift wings, angel-strong.
Of despair, and from the anger
Of long-disappointed hope,
Thou, O Human World! redeeming,
The pale phantoms of thy dreaming,
Shalt have strength with Time to cope.
Though thy weary feet be tender,
Though thy lids bear not the splendour
Of the Coming of thy Lord,
Yet, fond Hope! shalt thou behold him,
And thy powerful arms enfold him,
And thou know thyself adored.
149
On thy heart his life renewing,
Speed with thee his tireless flight;
And the wake of his star-tresses
O'er earth's untrack'd wildernesses
Guide Man to the far delight.
Lo! I hear the acclamations
Of the Faith-awaken'd Nations;
And the sweet low-chaunted song
Of their organized endeavour:
It soars upward ever, ever,
On the swift wings, angel-strong.
Awake, sad Hope! the tyrants of the earth
Are passing like night-shadows: though some clouds
Seek to prolong their reign, those lingering shrouds
Cradle the Morning in its hour of birth.
Ye ‘Dead’ come forth!
Are passing like night-shadows: though some clouds
Seek to prolong their reign, those lingering shrouds
Cradle the Morning in its hour of birth.
Ye ‘Dead’ come forth!
Upon the broad firm ground
Base ye the templéd round
Of human Right, where Men as Gods shall be!
O ye Republic Nations!
Lay wide the deep foundations
Both of your own and Man's Equality!—
Uprear the varied columns
In their own ample volumes,—
Upbear the sacred roof of Country, ye
Who know what Freedom meaneth!
When each on other leaneth,
Best power of service is real Liberty.—
Devote upon that shrine
Your lives to the Divine,—
Render to Heaven the worship of the Free!
The Heaven of sure progression,
Whose harmonized expression
Is thy perpetual song, Humanity!
Base ye the templéd round
Of human Right, where Men as Gods shall be!
O ye Republic Nations!
Lay wide the deep foundations
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Uprear the varied columns
In their own ample volumes,—
Upbear the sacred roof of Country, ye
Who know what Freedom meaneth!
When each on other leaneth,
Best power of service is real Liberty.—
Devote upon that shrine
Your lives to the Divine,—
Render to Heaven the worship of the Free!
The Heaven of sure progression,
Whose harmonized expression
Is thy perpetual song, Humanity!
From the depth of night
I have taken flight
Into the dawn of a pure delight:
And my song upsprings
Upon mighty wings
To the light of thy smile's imaginings;—
Into the Heaven
Where Faith was driven
When Earth by the winter storm was riven;
From the rock and chain
Of a hopeless pain
Up to thy Heaven I soar again;—
From the lowliest grave
That Truth dared brave,
Seeking even Death, to redeem the Slave;
Like an angel's psalm,
To the realms of calm,
Where Love is heal'd with immortal balm;—
To the azure sky
Of Faith's visions high
Of a serene Eternity,—
Where Toil is blest,
And where Hope may rest
To gaze in the eyes of the Loveliest.
I have taken flight
Into the dawn of a pure delight:
And my song upsprings
Upon mighty wings
To the light of thy smile's imaginings;—
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Where Faith was driven
When Earth by the winter storm was riven;
From the rock and chain
Of a hopeless pain
Up to thy Heaven I soar again;—
From the lowliest grave
That Truth dared brave,
Seeking even Death, to redeem the Slave;
Like an angel's psalm,
To the realms of calm,
Where Love is heal'd with immortal balm;—
To the azure sky
Of Faith's visions high
Of a serene Eternity,—
Where Toil is blest,
And where Hope may rest
To gaze in the eyes of the Loveliest.
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