Hesperia[17], be just--the right maintain, And foe without, nor foe within, prevails! Here nations slay themselves, if they be slain,-- Brother 'gainst brother, sire 'gainst son, till fails 1510 The fount of widow's tears and orphan's wails. Hear thou that servant[18] whom the Father sends-- Hear him and heed, ere Japheth's planet pales, That peace and freedom may remain thy friends, While hither, from all lands, all worlds, God's legion[19] wends. A gathering from all glories thou shalt see, Blest land of Joseph[20], honored, lifted high! Thy brother lands come bending unto thee, And Gog and Magog[21] menace but to die. While they that serve the Lord with single eye 1520 Shall see Him in the midst; the goal then won, When time no longer flecks eternity, Nor need is there of star, or moon, or sun, Since He, light's self, is risen, and heaven and earth are one. Thus far the angel, Ramah's sentinel, His vigil keeping on that lonely hill; And thus the spelled yet speechful auditor, Around the hearthside of that humble home. There sire and matron, trusted kith and kin, Give faithful credence to the story strange, 1530 Pondering the tidings wise and wonderful. Thence oft above that mount of mystery, Of buried lore the solemn sepulchre, Meet modern seer and ancient oracle. And while humility at wisdom's feet Expectant waits, where truth from earth shall spring, Comes, as from riven tomb, this wondrous tale: Where Joseph[22], where wast thou, that time when torn Was earth asunder; ocean's cleaving sword The wedded lands wide severing[23]? Where, when borne 1540 Deep through the watery world, as there devoured By wind and wave that harmless o'er them roared, The pilgrim sons of Shinar[24]--favored band, From that far clime where Babel's folly towered And language foundered on confusion's strand-- Won here a precious heritage, a promised land? Preserver of the pure and primal tongue[25], Most faithful found 'mid living sons of men, Their leader looked on God; then wrestling wrung By spirit might, and paged with fiery pen, 1550 The full of what would be, of what had been; Sealing the secret till an hour should chime When faith as mighty unto mortal ken Would bring the marvel of a book sublime[26], Bridging with lightful lore the shadowy gulf of time. But pilgrim prows now part the unknown wave; Above, around, baptismal billows[27] roll. Divinity, their guide, protection gave, Else had engulfing seas entombed the whole. Though tight each launch, where lines of lustre stole 1560 From molten stones, late struck from Shelem's height[28], And lit by touch divine. Unto the goal Of that grim voyage, banishing the night, Those crystal miracles gave forth their friendly light.