And, after all these centuries of light,
Have still no rule of right for questions vext,
Save springing at each other's throats like dogs.
Nay, I have known them meaner than the dogs,
Snarling and snarling, daring not to fight —
Whole nations, in their puny arrogance,
Vomiting evil words across the seas,
Until the air grew sulphurous with spite,
And cannon came to clear it.
VESUVIUS.
Yet I saw,
Only the last time when mine inward fires
Did grow too strong upon me and burst forth, —
I saw a youth, a careless, laughing youth,
Who, hearing moans for help beneath the wreck,
Did fling himself upon the scorching ash,
And dig and dig, with feet and fingers charred,
All quick with pain acute, dug on and on,
Until he rescued thence a stranger lad,
Of whom he knew just this, — that he was man,
And man in need.
