Eternity's offspring and germ are we all now. Thoughts have their true Roots in our race's first morning; they fall now, Query and clue, Freighted with seed Into eternity's soil; Joy be your meed, That your brief life's fleeting toil Fruit for eternity bears. Join in the joy of all life, every being, Brief bloom of its spring! Honor th' eternal, our human lot freeing From fetters that cling! Adding your mite, With the eternal unite! Though you decay, Breathe as a moment you may, Air of eternity's day! III CHORUS Who art _Thou_, whom a thousand names trace Through all times that are gone and each tongue? Thou wert infinite yearning's embrace, Thou wert hope when the yoke heavy hung, Thou wert darkening death-terror's guest, Thou wert sun that with life-gladness blessed. Still Thine image we changefully fashion, And each form we would call revelation; Each man holds his for true with deep passion,-- Till it crumbles in poignant negation. SOLO Who Thou art, none can tell. But I know Thou dost dwell As the limitless search in my soul--it is Thou!-- After justice and light, After victory's right For the new that's revealed, it is Thou, it is Thou! Every law that we see Or believe there may be, Though we never can knowledge attain, it is Thou!-- As my armor and aid Round my life they are laid, And with joy I avow, it is Thou, it is Thou! CHORUS Since we never Thine essence can know, We have thought mediators of Thee;-- But the ages their impotence show, We stand still, while no way we can see. If in sickness for succor we thirst, Is there balm in the dreams that have burst? Stars of hope and of longing eternal, That we saw o'er life's sorrows arisen, Shall they sink in death's terrors nocturnal, Only turn into worms in our prison? SOLO He that liveth in me, Needeth no one to be Mediator; I own Him indeed: it is Thou! Is eternal hope prized As from Him; is baptized By His spirit my own,--is it Thou, is it Thou --: Shall not I, who am dust, His eternity trust? I take humbly my law; for I know, it is Thou! Was I worth Thy word: Live! Let Thy life power give, When Thou wilt, as Thou wilt,--it is Thou, it is Thou! QUESTION AND ANSWER THE CHILD Father! Within the forest's bound No bird I found, No sound of song the woods around. THE FATHER The bird that glad his song us gave, Flies o'er the wave; Perhaps he there will find his grave. THE CHILD But why does he not wait till later? THE FATHER He goes where light and warmth are greater THE CHILD Father! It selfish seems to me, Far off to flee, When all we others here must be. THE FATHER With new-born spring comes new-born song; By instinct strong The better new he'll bring erelong. THE CHILD But if in death the cold waves swallow--? THE FATHER