say which were best.
63
And through the unuttered agony
Which we call Death, our souls are free.)
'Tis our prerogative, our doom,
To strive, to struggle, to o'ercome;
Through error's veils to burst away
From silken dalliance into Day,
Unweaving Folly's fettering coil,
To work out bitter truth by Toil;
Bravely our clanking chains to wear,
Nobly our humbling yoke to bear,
And stand erect beneath the skies
Through self-renouncing sacrifice;
Baffled, defeated, not undone,
To expiate and to atone—
(What angel glory in those words!
They pierce the soul as flaming swords)
To expiate and to atone—
To hope, endure, achieve, aspire,
Though bleeding, tortured, tried by fire,
Till heaven's redeeming path be won,
And we the crowning heights shall tread,
Life sanctified—Death perfected!
Say which were best.
Which we call Death, our souls are free.)
'Tis our prerogative, our doom,
To strive, to struggle, to o'ercome;
Through error's veils to burst away
From silken dalliance into Day,
Unweaving Folly's fettering coil,
To work out bitter truth by Toil;
Bravely our clanking chains to wear,
Nobly our humbling yoke to bear,
And stand erect beneath the skies
Through self-renouncing sacrifice;
Baffled, defeated, not undone,
To expiate and to atone—
(What angel glory in those words!
They pierce the soul as flaming swords)
To expiate and to atone—
To hope, endure, achieve, aspire,
Though bleeding, tortured, tried by fire,
Till heaven's redeeming path be won,
And we the crowning heights shall tread,
Life sanctified—Death perfected!
Say which were best.
