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THE FOURTH OF AUGUST
Winter's over and Summer's here:
Dance over the fairy ring!
Now comes in the sweet o' the year,
And the gay birds sing!
Dance over the fairy ring!
Now comes in the sweet o' the year,
And the gay birds sing!
[Enter a Veiled Figure, who stands over against the drowsing Youth and speaks.]
Seek not to lift my veil, ask not my name.
I have no name—I am the spirit's breath,
The soul's own blood, the secret spring of life.
O Child of Earth and Sky, lighten thine eyes,
See what thou art in truth—no fading flower,
No beast of prey, no dust enjoying dust,
No fluttering thing for mere salvation wild,
No passing shadow on the dial of Time—
What, then Look in thy heart; what life hast thou
That dust and shadows lack, what life beyond
The life of flower or beast? Have these the power
To live for something greater, to resign
Even in the sunlit moment of their strength
Their separate being?
I am that which bids thee
Die and outlive thyself: I am the Voice
That all thy heroes heard. When their long toil
Bowed down their burning shoulders, when they built
Thy peace with their despair, when bitter seas
Rolled over them, when battle broke their hearts
This was their life in death—then, then they heard
I have no name—I am the spirit's breath,
The soul's own blood, the secret spring of life.
O Child of Earth and Sky, lighten thine eyes,
See what thou art in truth—no fading flower,
No beast of prey, no dust enjoying dust,
No fluttering thing for mere salvation wild,
No passing shadow on the dial of Time—
What, then Look in thy heart; what life hast thou
That dust and shadows lack, what life beyond
The life of flower or beast? Have these the power
To live for something greater, to resign
Even in the sunlit moment of their strength
Their separate being?
I am that which bids thee
Die and outlive thyself: I am the Voice
That all thy heroes heard. When their long toil
Bowed down their burning shoulders, when they built
Thy peace with their despair, when bitter seas
Rolled over them, when battle broke their hearts
This was their life in death—then, then they heard