X.
From all lands Thronging they come in eager bands; Each with the tongue his mother spoke; Each with the songs her voice awoke; Each with his dominant hopes and needs, Alien habits and varying creeds. Bringing strange fictions and fancies they came, Calling old truths by a different name, When the lands Sent their sons hither in thronging bands.
XI.
But the Seer— This dead Century lying here— Rising out of this chaos, saw Peace and Order and Love and Law! Saw by what subtle alchemy Basest of metals at length should be Transmuted into the shining gold, Meet for a king to have and hold. Ah! great Seer! This pale Century lying here!
XII.
So he taught Honest freedom of speech and thought; Taught that Truth is the grandest thing Painter can paint, or poet sing; Taught that under the meanest guise It marches to deeds of high emprise; Treading the paths the prophets trod Up to the very mount of God! Truth, he taught, Claims full freedom of speech and thought.
XIII.
Bearing long Heavy burdens of hate and wrong, Still has the arm of the Century been Waging war against crime and sin. Still has he plead humanity’s cause; Still has he prayed for equal laws; Still has he taught that the human race Is one in despite of hue or place, Even though long It has wrestled with hate and wrong.
XIV.
And at length— A giant arising in his strength— The fetters of serf and slave he broke, Smiting them off by a single stroke! Over the Muscovite’s waste of snows, Up from the fields where the cotton grows, Clearly the shout of deliverance rang, When chattel and serf to manhood sprang, As at length The giant rose up in resistless strength.