Hail to New England, who loved thee and cheered thee, Nestling thee close to her heroine's heart! Here in the wilderness bravely she bore thee, Guarded thee, guided thee, prayed for thee then : "God in the pillar of fire be before thee; Child of New England, be mother of men! "Men who shall live in the light of thy vision, Men who shall welcome at duty's command Riches or poverty, praise or derision Men who shall work, with the head and the hand: "Not the dull heart of the meaningless stoic; Quick with the fires of unquenchable youth, Quivering yet calm, like the martyrs heroic, Living or dying, triumphant in truth." From the North, from the South, from the East, from the West, They come, to be born again; To the North, to the South, to the East, to the West, They go, to prove them men. In the field, at the desk, at the court, in the mart, With the joy in their eyes and the fire in their heart, To struggle, to strive, to obey, to command, To work, and to leaven the land. When the trumpet blew a shriller blast And the loud alarum rang, Marching, galloping, thick and fast, Forward, forward, on to the last, Forward again they sprang! Wounded and bleeding and dying and dead On to the last where the captain led, Danger and death and devotion they saw; Harvard had heroes then: Perkins and Dalton and Savage and Shaw, Lowell, and Lowell again; First in counsel and first to ride To death as the bridegroom to meet the brideLovers and leaders of men. There is one who knew them and loved them well, Never a braver than he. Like them he fought and like them he fell : Yet he lives to wear with a soldier's grace He lives to work in the wondrous light That shone for the shepherds on Christmas night; For the truth that makes men free. The truth that makes men free - there came a seer With radiant smile, whose eyes profound and keen Burnt through the mist that shrouds the wildering scene, Of love and life and death, and saw them clear The truth that makes men free-behold, there came A prophet with the poet's noblest art, In stature like a giant, and in heart Wide as the world, with lips and soul aflame Impetuous, kingly, true, whose very name voice Lifted the saddened soul to wonder and rejoice. The truth that makes men free-the scholar sweet Harvard has heroes yet; unspotted, brave, Free-hearted, strong, rejoicing still in youth, Even here the leader of our nation gave His vow to live for righteousness and truth. Harvard has heroes yet; supreme, victorious, From the North, from the South, from the East, from the West, They come, to be born again; To the North, to the South, to the East, to the West, They go, to prove them men. In the field, at the desk, at the court, in the mart, With the joy in their eyes and the fire in their heart, To struggle, to strive, to obey, to command, To work, and to leaven the land. Again the song the fathers sang before us! The cheer that rings through voice and heart again! The multitudinous, triumphant chorus ! The mighty mother marshalling her men! O mother whose benignant arms enfold us, O heart of all New England, bravest, best, Whose voice, forever strong and sweet, hath told us That life is work and work alone is rest, God be thy guide as onward still thou farest; 1 "Altiora semper audes Professor J. B. Greenough: |