Making man what he is, creature divine,
  In single or in social eminence, 425
  Above the rest raised infinite ascents
  When reason that enables him to be
  Is not sequestered—­what a change is here! 
  How different ritual for this after-worship,
  What countenance to promote this second love! 430
  The first was service paid to things which lie
  Guarded within the bosom of Thy will. 
  Therefore to serve was high beatitude;
  Tumult was therefore gladness, and the fear
  Ennobling, venerable; sleep secure, 435
  And waking thoughts more rich than happiest dreams.

    But as the ancient Prophets, borne aloft
  In vision, yet constrained by natural laws
  With them to take a troubled human heart,
  Wanted not consolations, nor a creed 440
  Of reconcilement, then when they denounced,
  On towns and cities, wallowing in the abyss
  Of their offences, punishment to come;
  Or saw, like other men, with bodily eyes,
  Before them, in some desolated place, 445
  The wrath consummate and the threat fulfilled;
  So, with devout humility be it said,
  So, did a portion of that spirit fall
  On me uplifted from the vantage-ground
  Of pity and sorrow to a state of being 450
  That through the time’s exceeding fierceness saw
  Glimpses of retribution, terrible,
  And in the order of sublime behests: 
  But, even if that were not, amid the awe
  Of unintelligible chastisement, 455
  Not only acquiescences of faith
  Survived, but daring sympathies with power,
  Motions not treacherous or profane, else why
  Within the folds of no ungentle breast
  Their dread vibration to this hour prolonged? 460
  Wild blasts of music thus could find their way
  Into the midst of turbulent events;
  So that worst tempests might be listened to. 
  Then was the truth received into my heart,
  That, under heaviest sorrow earth can bring, 465
  If from the affliction somewhere do not grow
  Honour which could not else have been, a faith,
  An elevation and a sanctity,
  If new strength be not given nor old restored,
  The blame is ours, not Nature’s.  When a taunt 470
  Was taken up by scoffers in their pride,
  Saying, “Behold the harvest that we reap
  From popular government and equality,”
  I clearly saw that neither these nor aught
  Of wild belief engrafted on their names 475
  By false philosophy had caused the woe,
  But a terrific reservoir of guilt
  And ignorance rilled up from age to age,
  That could no longer hold its loathsome charge,
  But burst and spread in deluge through the land. 480