FATE AND IWise men tell me thou, O Fate,Art invincible and great.Well, I own thy prowess; stillDare I flout thee with my willThou canst shatter in a spanAll the earthly pride of man.Outward things thou canst control;But stand back—I rule my soul!Death? ’Tis such a little thing—Scarcely worth the mentioning.What has death to do with me,Save to set my spirit free?Something in me dwells, O Fate,That can rise and dominateLoss, and sorrow, and disaster,—How, then, Fate, art thou my master?In the great primeval mornMy immortal will was born,Part of that stupendous CauseWhich conceived the Solar Laws,Lit the suns and filled the seas,Royalest of pedigrees.That great Cause was Love, the SourceWho most loves has most of Force.He who harbours Hate one hourSaps the soul of Peace and Power.He who will not hate his foeNeed not dread life’s hardest blow.In the realm of brotherhoodWishing no man aught but good,Naught but good can come to me—This is Love’s supreme decree.Since I bar my door to Hate,What have I to fear, O Fate?Since I fear not—Fate I vow,I the ruler am, not thou!
Wise men tell me thou, O Fate,Art invincible and great.
Well, I own thy prowess; stillDare I flout thee with my will
Thou canst shatter in a spanAll the earthly pride of man.
Outward things thou canst control;But stand back—I rule my soul!
Death? ’Tis such a little thing—Scarcely worth the mentioning.
What has death to do with me,Save to set my spirit free?
Something in me dwells, O Fate,That can rise and dominate
Loss, and sorrow, and disaster,—How, then, Fate, art thou my master?
In the great primeval mornMy immortal will was born,
Part of that stupendous CauseWhich conceived the Solar Laws,
Lit the suns and filled the seas,Royalest of pedigrees.
That great Cause was Love, the SourceWho most loves has most of Force.
He who harbours Hate one hourSaps the soul of Peace and Power.
He who will not hate his foeNeed not dread life’s hardest blow.
In the realm of brotherhoodWishing no man aught but good,
Naught but good can come to me—This is Love’s supreme decree.
Since I bar my door to Hate,What have I to fear, O Fate?
Since I fear not—Fate I vow,I the ruler am, not thou!