But my lifted voice fell broken,—

Like the muffled moan it fell

Of a riven and rusted bell.

’Twas as if the Lord were seated

In the chancel, and beheld,

And in wrath, while I entreated,

All my piteous prayer repell’d!—

Great shall be the House of God;

In my confidence I swore it;

Fearless, smote and wreck’d and tore it,