With  clouds  of  doubt  above,  and  ruts  of  discouragement  below :

Press  on,  sturdy  tra\'eller,  yet  a  league,  and  yet  a  league  !

While  every  step  is  binding  wings  on  thy  victorious  feet.
Eveiy  end  is  happiness,  the  glorious  consummation  of  design,
The  perils  past,  the  fears  annulled,  the  journey  at  its  close  :
And  the  traveller  restcth  in  complacency,  liome-returned  at  last :
Work  done  may  claim  its  wages,  tlie  goal  gained  hath  won  its  prize.
•  THE  END.  241

While  the  labour  lasted,  while  the  race  was  running,
Many  times  the  sinews  ached,  and  half  refused  the  struggle  ;
But  now,  all  is  quietness,  a  pleasant  hour  given  to  repose ;
Calmness  in  the  retrospect  of  good,  and  calmness  in  the  prospect  of  a  bless-
ing.
Hope  was  glad  in  the  begiiniing,  and  fear  was  sad  midway,
But  sweet  fruition  cometh  in  the  end,  a  harvest  safe  and  sure.
That  which  is,  can  never  not  have  been  :  facts  are  solid  as  the  pyramids :
A  thing  done  is  written  in  the  rock,  yea,  with  a  pen  of  iron.
Uncertainty  no  more  can  scare,  the  proof  is  seen  complete,
Nor  accident  render  unaccomplished,  for  the  deed  is  finished.
Thus  the  end  shall  crown  die  work,  with  grace,  grace,  unto  the  topstone,
And  the  work  shall  triumph  in  its  crown,  with  peace,  peace,  unto  the
builder.
I  have  written,  as  other  some  of  old,  in  quaint  and  meaning  phrase,
Of  many  things  for  either  world,  a  crowd  of  facts  and  fancies  :
And  vv'ill  ye  judge   me,  men  of  mind  ? — judge  in  kindly  calmness  ;
For  bitter  words  of  haste  or  hate  have  often  been  repented.
