434
THE FIRST FIRE
Shall hemlock, pine, and maple bring
The deep wood's fragrant offering,
The deep wood's fragrant offering,
As incense to this household shrine.
O hearth, no richer spoil were thine
If all Dodona's oaks had shed
Their life-blood and for thee lay dead!
O hearth, no richer spoil were thine
If all Dodona's oaks had shed
Their life-blood and for thee lay dead!
Thou waiting one, doth no strange thrill
Thy quickening veins with wonder fill?
Have the far-seeing, prescient years
No presage for thy listening ears?
Thy quickening veins with wonder fill?
Have the far-seeing, prescient years
No presage for thy listening ears?
Life hath its phases manifold,
Yet still the new repeats the old;
There is no truer truth than this:
What was, is still the thing that is.
Yet still the new repeats the old;
There is no truer truth than this:
What was, is still the thing that is.
Therefore we know that thou wilt hear
Childhood's light laughter ringing clear;
The flow of song, the breath of prayer,
Whisper of love, and sigh of care.
Childhood's light laughter ringing clear;
The flow of song, the breath of prayer,
Whisper of love, and sigh of care.
Thou wilt see youth go forth to gauge
His being's lofty heritage,
And manhood in the autumn eves
Come homeward laden with his sheaves.
His being's lofty heritage,
And manhood in the autumn eves
Come homeward laden with his sheaves.
O life and death, O joy and woe,
In mingling streams your tides shall flow,
While sun and storm alike fulfil
The mandates of the Eternal Will!
In mingling streams your tides shall flow,
While sun and storm alike fulfil
The mandates of the Eternal Will!
Now bring the torch and light the fire,
Let the swift flames leap high and higher,
Let the swift flames leap high and higher,
