Men of Genius + 

Silent, the Lord of the world + 

Eyes from the heavenly height, + 

Girt by his far-shining train, + 

Us, who with banners unfurl’d + 

Fight life’ many-chanc’d fight + 

Madly below, in the plain. + 

Thus saith the Lord to his own:⁠— + 

“See ye the battle below? + 

Turmoil of death and of birth! + 

Too long let we them groan. + 

Haste, arise ye, and go; + 

Carry my peace upon earth.” + 

Gladly they rise at his call; + 

Gladly they take his command; + 

Gladly descend to the plain. + 

Alas! How few of them all⁠— + 

Those willing servants⁠—shall stand + 

In the Master’s presence again! + 

Some in the tumult are lost: + 

Baffled, bewilder’d, they stray. + 

Some as prisoners draw breath. + 

Others⁠—the bravest⁠—are cross’d, + 

On the height of their bold-follow’d way, + 

By the swift-rushing missile of Death. + 

Hardly, hardly shall one + 

Come, with countenance bright, + 

O’er the cloud-wrapt, perilous plain: + 

His Master’s errand well done, + 

Safe through the smoke of the fight, + 

Back to his Master again. + 