III

O Freedom! as thy sister spirit, Spring,

Pausing above the earth, sees every hue

Of her prismatic crown, reflected true

In forests and in fields, and fledgling's wing,

So thou dost see thy spirit glorying

With faith, that man is more than Nature's spew—

In human spirit that, from beauty drew

First breath to know that soul is more than thing.

O Freedom! fain we follow thee in flight

From chaos to God's glory round and round,

Aloft! how like an elk pursued by hound,

To brinks thou springest toward the distant height

And, on bent knees, then speedest without sound,

Like Faith through Death, till, lo! thou dost alight.