Читать книгу My Commonplace Book онлайн

106 страница из 124

THE NEW GOSPEL

HAECKELIUS loquitur:

The ages have passed and come with the beat of a measureless tread

And piled up their palace-dome on the dust of the ageless dead,

Since the atom of life first glowed in the breast of eternal time,

And shaped for itself its abode in the womb of the shapeless slime;

And the years matured its form with slow, unwearying toil.

Moulded by sun and storm, and rich with the centuries’ spoil,

Till the face of the earth was fair, and life grew up into mind,

And breathed its earliest prayer to its god in the dawn or wind,

And called itself by the name of man, the master and lord,

Who conquers the strength of flame and tempers the spear and sword;

For the world grows wiser by war, and death is the law of life,

The lowermost rock in the scar is red with the stains of strife.

Burst thro’ the bounds of sight, and measure the least of things,

Plummet the infinite and make to thy fancy wings;

From crystal, and coral, and weed, up to man in his noblest race,

The weaker shall fail in his need, and the stronger shall hold his place!