Away the kingly cloak he tears And on the people's shoulder places, So it no more need make grimaces To borrowed clothes some highness wears, But be itself its majesty In right of spirit-dynasty, In saga's light On heart and brain, In men of might From its loins ta'en, In will unbiased and unbroken, In manly deed and bold word spoken. His songs the nation's sins chastise, He hates a lie, as truth's high teacher (No Sunday-, but a weekday-preacher, Who, suffering, still the wrong defies). Against false peace he plies his lance, 'Gainst cowardice and ignorance,-- No bribe he knows From nation's hand Nor king's command; But _his_ way goes. And when he wavers, sorrow scourges His heart and free of passion purges. He is a brother of the small, Of women, as of all who suffer, The new and weak, when waves grow rougher, He steers, till fairer breezes fall. Greater he grows without his will By deeds his calling to fulfil, And near the tomb To God he sighs, That soon may rise A richer bloom To deck his people's soul with flowers Of beauty far beyond his powers. PSALMS I I seem to be Sundered from Thee, Thou Harmony of all creation. Am I disowned For talents loaned And useless hid in vain probation? Now powerless, In weariness, Now in despair a beggar humble For help, for cheer, A voice, an ear, To hear and guide, while on I stumble. God, let me be. Of use to Thee! If vain my purpose and my powers, Then sinks from sight My star,--and night Henceforth my steps enfolding lowers. Then break and bind My ravaged mind The terrors dread of doubt and anguish. I know the pack, I drove them back;-- Only to-day does courage languish. Oh, come now, peace! Come faith's increase, That life's strong chain shall ever bind me! That not in vain I strive and strain Myself to seek until I find me! II Honor the springtide life ever adorning, That all things has made! Things smallest have some resurrectional morning, The forms alone fade. Life begets life, Potencies higher surprise. Kind begets kind, Heedless of time as it flies. Worlds pass away and arise. Nothing so small but there's something still smaller, No one can see. Nothing so great but there's something still greater Beyond it can be. Worms in the earth-- Mountains to make they essay. Dust without worth, Sands with which sea-billows play,-- Founders of kingdoms were they. Infinite all, where the smallest and greatest Oneness unfold. No one has seen what was first,--and the latest None shall behold. Laws underlie, Order the all they maintain. Need and supply Bring one another; our bane Boots to the general gain.