Well doth she know the hour must come,
When boom of cannon, clash of spear,
And martial music, sound of drum,
Announce to all “the foe is near.”
And in her hands she holds the keys;
I hear her footsteps at the gate—
The Eastern Gate—of Eastern Seas,
O’er which shall ride her ships of state.
When Western Empires disappear
As lost Lemuria in the myths
Of ages, Austral still will bear
Her story in her Monoliths.
THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN.
What, though thou be not rich, or great;
What, if of thy deeds some men shall prate;
What, though thy dearest friends should blame,
Or scandal weave around thy name.
Walk in the light of day; thy steps shall leave
Some traces by the way. Nor do thou grieve
O’er thy past deeds. If thou would’st drain the cup
To its last dregs of happiness, look up
And labour ’gainst despair and doubt
And help thy fellow man. Look up! Look out!
For every noble deed thy heart shall swell
With joy; for thou thyself within the well
Of thine own heart dost hold the keys of Heaven or Hell.
Endowed with knowledge thou must see
His ways; though sometimes veiled they be.
Then do not murmur at thy weary load,
But sow the seeds of patience on thy road,
And in the harvest of the sun and sod
Perchance thou’ll lead a brother up to God.
Be true unto thyself, so that thou can
Seal with love’s seal, the brotherhood of man.
ISODORE.
Once upon a night so dreary
I was seated all alone
In my sanctum sad and weary,
All my heart was turned to stone.
And the rain fell, never ceasing,
While the wind with angry roar
Howled against the leaden casements,
As it n’er had done before.