| |
| THE OVERFAITHFUL sword returns the user | |
| His heart’s desire at price of his heart’s blood. | |
| The clamour of the arrogant accuser | |
| Wastes that one hour we needed to make good. | |
| This was foretold of old at our outgoing; | 5 |
| This we accepted who have squandered, knowing, | |
| The strength and glory of our reputations, | |
| At the day’s need, as it were dross, to guard | |
| The tender and new-dedicate foundations | |
| Against the sea we fear—not man’s award. | 10 |
| |
| They that dig foundations deep, | |
| Fit for realms to rise upon, | |
| Little honour do they reap | |
| Of their generation, | |
| Any more than mountains gain | 15 |
| Stature till we reach the plain. | |
| |
| With no veil before their face | |
| Such as shroud or sceptre lend— | |
| Daily in the market-place, | |
| Of one height to foe and friend— | 20 |
| They must cheapen self to find | |
| Ends uncheapened for mankind. | |
| |
| Through the night when hirelings rest, | |
| Sleepless they arise, alone, | |
| The unsleeping arch to test | 25 |
| And the o’er-trusted corner-stone, | |
| ’Gainst the need, they know, that lies | |
| Hid behind the centuries. | |
| |
| Not by lust of praise or show | |
| Not by Peace herself betrayed— | 30 |
| Peace herself must they forego | |
| Till that peace be fitly made; | |
| And in single strength uphold | |
| Wearier hands and hearts acold. | |
| |
| On the stage their act hath framed | 35 |
| For thy sports, O Liberty! | |
| Doubted are they, and defamed | |
| By the tongues their act set free, | |
| While they quicken, tend and raise | |
| Power that must their power displace. | 40 |
| |
| Lesser men feign greater goals, | |
| Failing whereof they may sit | |
| Scholarly to judge the souls | |
| That go down into the pit, | |
| And, despite its certain clay, | 45 |
| Heave a new world towards the day. | |
| |
| These at labour make no sign, | |
| More than planets, tides or years | |
| Which discover God’s design, | |
| Not our hopes and not our fears; | 50 |
| Nor in aught they gain or lose | |
| Seek a triumph or excuse. | |
| |
| For, so the Ark be borne to Zion, who | |
| Heeds how they perished or were paid that bore it? | |
| For, so the Shrine abide, what shame—what pride— | 55 |
| If we, the priests, were bound or crowned before it? | |
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