Neither the brooding charm of the wood, nor the trees for the builder;
Not for these was the earth-pang; for Pain, for Pain sacrificial
Offered to God; for the altar whereon Man blindly or wisely
Laid, for the Faith that was in him, his body born of a woman,
Laid, in his passion of service, the life of his own blood-brother,—
Even for that Altar august had the ridges and hills from aforetime
Waited, elect. So of old, under Syrian azure, and burning
Stars of that ancient land, grew a great Tree, branched like another;
Soared to its height, and waited, elect for the Cross of all crosses.
Now was arrived the hour, and the stern supreme dedication,