The Words of Reality

I NAME you Three Words which ought to resound
In thunder from zone to zone:
But the world understands them not — they are found

In the depths of the heart alone.
That man must indeed be utterly base
In whose heart the Three Words no longer find place.

First, — MAN is FREE, is CREATED FREE,

Though born a manacled slave: —
I abhor the abuses of Liberty —

I hear how the populace rave, —
But I never can dread, and I dare not disdain,
The slave who stands up and shivers his chain!

And, — VIRTUE is NOT AN EMPTY NAME: —

'Tis the paction of Man with his soul,
That, though balked of his worthiest earthly aim,

He will still seek a heavenly goal;
For, that to which worldling natures are blind
Is a pillar of light for the childlike mind.

And, — A GOD, AN IMMUTABLE WILL, EXISTS,

However Men waver and yield: —
Beyond Space, beyond Time, and their dimming mists,

The Ancient of Days is revealed;
And while Time and the Universe haste to decay,
Their unchangeable Author is Lord for aye!

Then, treasure those Words. They ought to resound

In thunder from zone to zone;

But the world will not teach thee their force; — they are
found

In the depths of the heart alone;
Thou never, O Man! canst be utterly base
While those Three Words in thy heart find place!