| LONG warned of many terrors more severe | |
| To scorch him than hell’s engines could awaken, | |
| He scanned again, too far to be so near, | |
| The fearful seat no man had ever taken. | |
| |
| So many other men with older eyes | 5 |
| Than his to see with older sight behind them | |
| Had known so long their one way to be wise,— | |
| Was any other thing to do than mind them? | |
| |
| So many a blasting parallel had seared | |
| Confusion on his faith,—could he but wonder | 10 |
| If he were mad and right, or if he feared | |
| God’s fury told in shafted flame and thunder? | |
| |
| There fell one day upon his eyes a light | |
| Ethereal, and he heard no more men speaking; | |
| He saw their shaken heads, but no long sight | 15 |
| Was his but for the end that he went seeking. | |
| |
| The end he sought was not the end; the crown | |
| He won shall unto many still be given. | |
| Moreover, there was reason here to frown: | |
| No fury thundered, no flame fell from heaven. | 20 |
