Of man’s nobility! No halo’s light
From these shall round thee shed its sacred ray;
If these be all thy joy,—then dark thy day,
And darker still thy swift approaching night!
But if in thee more truly than in others
Hath dwelt Love’s charity;—if by thine aid
Others have passed above thee, and if thou,
Though victor, yieldest victory to thy brothers,
Though conquering conquered, and a vassal made—
Then take thy crown, well mayst thou wear it now.