Poems (Hoffman)/Experimentum Crusis
EXPERIMENTUM CRUSIS
("The fire shall try every man's work."—1 Cor. 3:13.)
Is it delusion when we break the seal That false opinion has set on the tombs Of mighty truths that sleep 'mid silent glooms,And catch one glimpse of the living real That rises to confront us?
Thus I saw (but for a moment and in awed surprise) All the work of my life, and, furnace-tried, The dross consumed, and but the gold abide,And God's truth stood unveiled before my eyes— Then vanished, save to memory.
No more I count my greater triumphs great, No more my little victories are small; Since I hold still, amidst the loss of allThe deathless glory of unselfish love and conquered hate, Brighter than trophies of unrighteous war.
O, little kindnesses that were not set To sparkle in the crowns of emperors!O, human victories that the God of wars Shall not forget!These, these remain when every work is tried.
No more I covet the reward of fame; The Christ-like spirit in each given taskImmortal gold—truth, faith, and love— I ask.These shall not waste in flame.