Nay, for as kings and conquerors they come; Anon, as champions of democracy; Founders of faiths and stern iconoclasts; Sword, tongue and pen of progress and reform. The fountain lights of literature, whose rays Spill their white splendor on the hills of fame; Masters of melody, whose strains awake The slumbering memories of eternity; 930 Pilgrims to continents and climes unknown, Uncurtained for the play of liberty, Now nearing the finale of her dreams, Dreams that shall waken to reality; Waste-winners; probers of the polar way; Invention's wizards, wielding magic might-- Launching fleet words on atmospheric wave, Cleaving with bird-like wing the shoreless blue, Outspeeding speed, outblazing brilliancy, Thrilling the world with lightning's vivid wand, 940 Ruling all realms with scintillating sway; Sages in art, in science past profound, Subduing matter and exploring mind, Sounding the depths of psychic mystery, Scaling thought's pinnacles, that pierce the night, To greet the early glintings of the morn. These also are the mighty, kin to those, Divinest of Jehovah's messengers. Each hath his freedom, and succeeds or fails, But all subserve the Will Omnipotent. 950 What though some wayward son of Deity[38], Builder, o'erthrower, of imperial thrones, In wrongful act of rightful agency, Here drench with blood, here pave with shattered bones, To heights of crumbling power and futile fame! Is God then mocked? Made void His vast design? Creator foiled by creature? Vain the fear! Speeds ne'er to earth a spoiler of His plan, Nor spares His rod a recreant messenger. Whate'er betide, the soul that sins atones: 960 The grievous sceptre and the slaughtering sword, The bloodstained ax, the gory guillotine, The tyrant wrong, the tyrant-trampling right, Join to make justice of the direst doom. All oracles of light, all arms of power, Preparers of the way one face before; Their strength but part of His omnipotence, Their fault God-given lest man be deified, And pride in him dethrone humility. Declare His truth, His generations tell, 970 O'er whom the many marveled, some to say Elias, slain of Herod, lives again; While some said Jeremias[39]. Who say ye, Man-hated, though God-missioned ministers, Unctioned with fire, anointed from on High! Guardians yet watchful o'er the widening fold! Who say ye was your Master, Teacher, Friend?