The Test

Naked reality, and menace near As fire to scorching flesh, shall not affright The spirit that sees, with danger--sharpened sight, What it must save or die for; not the mere Name, but the thing, now doubly, trebly dear, Freedom; the breath those hands would choke; the light They would put out; the clean air they would blight, Making earth rank with hate, and greed, and fear. Now no man's loss is private: all share all. Oh, each of us a soldier stands to--day, Put to the proof and summoned to the call; One will, one faith, one peril. Hearts, be high, Most in the hour that's darkest! Come what may, The soul in us is found, and shall not die.