THE VENTURERS

Yea! even such as creep

With eyes bent earthward, in the little space

Between the dawn and waning of the day,

Between a sleep and sleep:

Even these, without a fixed abiding-place,

Travel, though tardily, upon the way

Labouring; while your lighter, swifter sail

Soars, rising over sudden hills of foam,

Exultant, through the storm; and, eager, flies

Like a fleet swallow up to meet the gale,

That drives with anger, through the heaven's dome,

Clouds, like great silver galleons in a sea of skies.

For every man, and each,

Is like a venture putting forth to sea,

Voyaging into unknown ways to find

Kindlier lands; and urges on to reach

Kingdoms which there may be

Hidden the grey gloom of the sea behind:

Fabulous kingdoms piled with golden toil

And the slow garnering of mortal dreams:

Such as lured forth the splendid sails of Spain.

So, journeying, we, in hope of that great spoil,

Steer hardily through all conflicting streams

Of Ocean, and count all the exultant battling gain.