James Russell Lowell, Once To Every Man And Nation (1845)

1 Once to every man and nation Comes the moment to decide, In the strife of truth with falsehood, For the good or evil side; Some great cause, God's new Messiah, Offering each the bloom or blight, And the choice goes by forever Twixt that darkness and that light. 2 Then to side with truth is noble, When we share her wretched crust, Ere her cause bring fame and profit, And 'tis prosperous to be just; Then it is the brave man chooses While the coward stands aside, Till the multitude make virtue Of the faith they had denied. 3 By the light of burning martyrs, Christ, Thy bleeding feet we track, Toiling up new Calvaries ever With the cross that turns not back; New occasions teach new duties, Time makes ancient good uncouth; They must upward still and onward, Who would keep abreast of truth. 4 Though the cause of evil prosper, Yet 'tis truth alone is strong; Though her portion be the scaffold, And upon the throne be wrong: Yet that scaffold sways the future, And, behind the dim unknown, Standeth God within the shadow Keeping watch above His own.Author: James Russell Lowell (1845)