Page:A Treasury of South African Poetry.djvu/270

Heard in earthquake, flame, or stillness, aught more holy than the truth
Echoed by our mother Nature from her dawn of early youth
Through all ages—"Man is God-like—weak and erring, suffering man,—
God-like in the thoughts he thinketh, God-like in the deeds he can."

Yea! and with the curse upon him, more he proves his lofty birth
Than in yon old Eden dwelling, sated with the ease of earth,
When he strives for men around him, battles for his brother's right;
When he spreads amid the darkness rays of never-dying light—
Rays that calmly shining from him reach the weary sufferer's breast,
Warm once more the frozen feelings, bringing ease to his unrest;
Rays whose widely-beaming brilliance shows all men one brotherhood,
Man then only rightly human when he yearns for human good.

Mighty nations then most glorious when their world-wide cherished name
Is a succour to the helpless,—unto tyrants fear and shame!
When their deeds have been of justice, mercies done and wisdom spread,