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‘Until the Day Break. . .’
- WHEN head and hands and heart alike are weary;
- When Hope with folded wings sinks out of sight;
- When all thy striving fails to disentangle
- From out wrong’s skein the golden threads of right;
- When all thy knowledge seems a marsh‐light’s glimmer,
- That only shows the blackness of the night;
- In the dark hour when victory seems hopeless,
- Against thy lance when armies are arrayed,
- When failure writes itself upon thy forehead,
- By foes outnumbered and by friends betrayed;
- Still stand thou fast, though faith be bruised and wounded,
- Still face thy future, still be undismayed!
- While one true man speaks out against injustice,
- While through men’s chorused ‘Right!’ clear rings his ‘Wrong!’
- Freedom still lives. One day she will reward him
- Who trusted in her though she tarried long,
- Who held her creed, was faithful till her coming,
- Who, for her sake, strove, suffered, and was strong.
- She will bring crowns for those who love and serve her;
- If thou canst live for her, be satisfied;
- If thou canst die for her, rejoice! Our brothers
- At least shall crown our graves and say, ‘These died
- Believing in the sun when night was blackest,
- And by our dawn their faith is justified!’
1900.
