| Higginson and Bigelow, comps. American Sonnets. 1891. | | | | 1643 “Veritas” 1878 | | By Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809–1894) |
| | (The Harvard University Motto)
TRUTH: So the frontlet’s older legend ran, | |
| On the brief record’s opening page displayed; | |
| Not yet those clear-eyed scholars were afraid | |
| Lest the fair fruit that wrought the woe of man | |
| By far Euphrates,—where our sire began | 5 |
| His search for truth, and seeking, was betrayed,— | |
| Might work new treason in their forest shade, | |
| Doubling the curse that brought life’s shortened span. | |
| Nurse of the future, daughter of the past, | |
| That stern phylactery best becomes thee now: | 10 |
| Lift to the morning star thy marble brow! | |
| Cast thy brave truth on every warring blast! | |
| Stretch thy white hand to that forbidden bough, | |
| And let thine earliest symbol be thy last! | | | | |
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