Dark looms the record of his earlier years,— A troubled tale of infamy and tears; For, of the ill by man primeval wrought, Shows forth predominant with anguish fraught, And long disaster to the ensuant race, The direful course of degradation base, Where freedom, justice, right,—at one fell blow,— In woman’s life of slave were outraged and laid low. VI. The inklings gleaned of prehistoric hour Speak woman thrall to man’s unbridled power; Than brute more gifted, he, with heinous skill, Subdued her being to his sensual will; Binding her fast with ties of cunning weight, By mother’s burden forced to slavish fate; Thus woman was, and such her man-made doom, Ere yet the dawn of love illumed the soulless gloom. VII. Ere Evolution, in unhasting speed, Trained man’s regard to larger life and need; By Art his feelings waked to functions higher, Disclosed within his clay the veins of fire, Taught him his pleasures of the flesh to find But presage of the mightier joys of mind; Evoked the soul from fume of mortal dust, The vestal flame of love from lower flush of lust. VIII. The eye that once could note but food or foe Grew wise to watch the landscape’s varied glow; To gaze beyond our earthly temporal bars, And track the orbit of the wandering stars: The voice erst roused by hunger or by rage Now tells the nobler passions of the age, Till with love’s language is uplifted love To high and selfless thought all sensuous aim above. IX. But not at once such life and love to know, For progress strives through many an ebb and flow; Man’s kindling sense, though stirred by call of Art, Still missed the motive of her deepest heart; ’Twas in her gracious embassy to give A fairer faith and fate to all that live, Neglecting none,—yet man, ’twixt lust and pride, Due portion in the boon to woman still denied. X. Æons of wrong ere history was born, With added ages passed in slight and scorn, Maintained the chains of primal womanhood, And clogged in turn man’s power of greater good; Egypt or Greece in vain sought heavenly light While woman’s soul was held from equal flight,— Her path confined by man to sordid end, As subjugated wife, or hireling transient friend. XI. Marriage—which might have been a mateship sweet, Where equal souls in hallowed converse meet, Each aiding each the higher truths to find, And raising body to the plane of mind,— Man’s baser will restrained to lower grade, And woman’s share a brainless bondage made; Her only hope of thought or learning wide, Some freer lot to seek than yoke forlorn of bride.