Ears giddy with custom that sound might not hear, But it woke up the rest, like an earthquake near; And that same night of the letter, some strange Compulsion of soul brought a sense of change; And at midnight the sound grew into a roll As the sound of all gath'rings from pole to pole, From pole unto pole, and from clime to clime, Like the roll of the wheels of the coming of time;-- A sound as of cities, and sound as of swords Sharpening, and solemn and terrible words, And laughter as solemn, and thunderous drumming, A tread as if all the world were coming. And then was a lull, and soft voices sweet Call'd into music those terrible feet, Which rising on wings, lo! the earth went round To the burn of their speed with a golden sound; With a golden sound, and a swift repose, Such as the blood in the young heart knows; Such as Love knows, when his tumults cease; When all is quick, and yet all is at peace. And when Captain Sword got up next morn, Lo! a new-fac'd world was born; For not an anger nor pride would it shew, Nor aught of the loftiness now found low, Nor would his own men strike a single blow: Not a blow for their old, unconsidering lord Would strike the good soldiers of Captain Sword; But weaponless all, and wise they stood, In the level dawn, and calm brotherly good; Yet bowed to him they, and kiss'd his hands, For such were their new lord's commands, Lessons rather, and brotherly plea; Reverence the past, quoth he; Reverence the struggle and mystery, And faces human in their pain; Nor his the least, that could sustain Cares of mighty wars, and guide Calmly where the red deaths ride. "But how! what now?" cried Captain Sword; "Not a blow for your gen'ral? not even a word? What! traitors? deserters?" "Ah no!" cried they; "But the 'game's' at an end; the 'wise' wont play." "And where's your old spirit?" "The same, though another; Man may be strong without maiming his brother." "But enemies?" "Enemies! Whence should they come, When all interchange what was known but to some?" "But famine? but plague? worse evils by far." "O last mighty rhet'ric to charm us to war! Look round--what has earth, now it equably speeds, To do with these foul and calamitous needs? Now it equably speeds, and thoughtfully glows, And its heart is open, never to close? [Illustration: