Men of Genius.
Silent, the Lord of the world1
Eyes from the heavenly height,2
Girt by his far-shining train,3
Us, who with banners unfurl’d4
Fight life’s many-chance’d fight5
Madly below, in the plain.6
Then saith the Lord to his own :—7
“ See ye the battle below ?8
Turmoil of death and of birth !9
Too long let we them groan.10
Haste, arise ye, and go ;11
Carry my peace upon earth.”12
Gladly they rise at his call ;13
Gladly they take his command ;14
Gladly descend to the plain.15
Alas ! How few of them all—16
Those willing servants—shall stand17
In their Master’s presence again !18
Some in the tumult are lost :19
Baffled, bewilder’d, they stray.20
Some as prisoners draw breath.21
Others—the bravest—are cross’d,22
On the height of their bold-follow’d way,23
By the swift-rushing missile of Death.24
Hardly, hardly shall one25
Come, with countenance bright,26
O’er the cloud-wrapt, perilous plain :27
His Master’s errand well done,28
Safe through the smoke of the fight,29
Back to his Master again.30