REVOLUTIONS
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efore man parted for this earthly strand,While yet upon the verge of heaven he stood,God put a heap of letters in his hand,And bade him make with them what word he could. And man has turn'd them many times; made Greece, 5Rome, England, France;--yes, nor in vain essay'dWay after way, changes that never cease!The letters have combined, something was made. But ah! an inextinguishable senseHaunts him that he has not made what he should; 10That he has still, though old, to recommence,Since he has not yet found the word God would. And empire after empire, at their heightOf sway, have felt this boding sense come on;Have felt their huge frames not constructed right, 15And droop'd, and slowly died upon their throne. One day, thou say'st, there will at last appearThe word, the order, which God meant should be.--Ah! we shall know _that_ well when it comes near;The band will quit man's heart, he will breathe free. 20 SELF-DEPENDENCE° Weary of myself, and sick of askingWhat I am, and what I ought to be,At this vessel's prow I stand, which bears meForwards, forwards, o'er the starlit sea. And a look of passionate desire 5O'er the sea and to the stars I send:"Ye who from my childhood up have calm'd me,Calm me, ah, compose me to the end! "Ah, once more," I cried, "ye stars, ye waters,On my heart your mighty charm renew; 10Still, still let me, as I gaze upon you,Feel my soul becoming vast like you!" From the intense, clear, star-sown vault of heaven,Over the lit sea's unquiet way,In the rustling night-air came the answer: 15"Wouldst thou _be_ as these are? _Live_ as they. "Unaffrighted by the silence round them,Undistracted by the sights they see,These demand not that the things without themYield them love, amusement, sympathy. 20 "And with joy the stars perform their shining,And the sea its long moon-silver'd roll;For self-poised they live, nor pine with notingAll the fever of some differing soul. "Bounded by themselves, and unregardful 25In what state God's other works may be,In their own tasks all their powers pouring,These attain the mighty life you see." O air-born voice! long since, severely clear,A cry like thine in mine own heart I hear: 30"Resolve to be thyself; and know that he,Who finds himself, loses his misery!"
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