Chapter II

Honor the springtide life ever adorning, That all things has made! Things smallest have some resurrectional morning, The forms alone fade. Life begets life, Potencies higher surprise. Kind begets kind, Heedless of time as it flies. Worlds pass away and arise.

Nothing so small but there's something still smaller, No one can see. Nothing so great but there's something still greater Beyond it can be. Worms in the earth-- Mountains to make they essay. Dust without worth, Sands with which sea-billows play,-- Founders of kingdoms were they.

Infinite all, where the smallest and greatest Oneness unfold. No one has seen what was first,--and the latest None shall behold. Laws underlie, Order the all they maintain. Need and supply Bring one another; our bane Boots to the general gain.

Eternity's offspring and germ are we all now. Thoughts have their true Roots in our race's first morning; they fall now, Query and clue, Freighted with seed Into eternity's soil; Joy be your meed, That your brief life's fleeting toil Fruit for eternity bears.

Join in the joy of all life, every being, Brief bloom of its spring! Honor th' eternal, our human lot freeing From fetters that cling! Adding your mite, With the eternal unite! Though you decay, Breathe as a moment you may, Air of eternity's day!