Sawest thou, O prophet! till the pioneer Builded his eagle nest, and pure and brave Homed on the white-helmed peak and crystal mere? O matchless land--the home their valor gave, Mighty in will to bless, in work to save, 3040 Redeemed, redeeming, all must own thy worth! Slander may wound thee, tyranny enslave, Still thou art mine, loved land of all the earth, Land of the honey-bee[11], land of my mortal birth! Land prest by footprint of my pilgrim sire[12]; Land visioned by my more than sire, whose soul Swept the far future with a glance of fire, Bade hope, as memory, her page unroll; Beheld uplifting, as a parted scroll, The curtain from a kingdom yet to be, 3050 Binding in one world-realms from pole to pole; Saw monarchs bow, saw nations bend the knee, Saw dead and risen time take on eternity. "Hear me, my people[13]! I shall not be slain While unfulfilled my mission? Then, like Him Who holds my hand, linked in an endless chain, Which cannot die, whose light can ne'er grow dim, Must I return to Home and Elohim. Though here I fain would linger--human choice! If weal to friend or foe--ay, e'en to them, 3060 Might purchased be, with my poor life the price, Welcome, thrice welcome death. I will the sacrifice. "Nor marvel at my mood. Could you but gaze Upon the wonders of the worlds of God, Where burn, amid the universal blaze, The Father's fullness and the Son's abode, Won by their feet who walk the rightful road, Nor weary in well-doing; 'twere alone Reward for all that here hath been your load. Forgive--leave all to heaven, whose highest Throne 3070 Made endless love to endless life the stepping stone. "Hearken, O House of Joseph! Here must end My mortal toil. Now, as from Nebo's height[14], I see, like him of old, my day descend. But looms afar upon my sinking sight Another Canaan. Clothe for pilgrim flight. A Joshua cometh! Him let Israel heed, And loyal be unto that council's right On whom the Kingdom rolls; for they must lead To where privation's hand shall sow dominion's seed. 3080 "A glacier's might, your gathered strength shall stand, Stalwart upon the mountains[15], and shall send Swift messengers to sound o'er sea and land Last warning to the nations. Hither wend Awakening hosts, who eager hearing lend While yet the voice of grace, the voice of God, Summons the house of Abraham his friend; Calls them the wave to cleave, the wild to plod, On, on to that safe rest, ere falls the reckoning rod.