LXV.—NOW, TO-DAY.ADELAIDE A. PROCTOR.
ADELAIDE A. PROCTOR.
1. Arise! for the day is passing,And you lie dreaming on;Your brothers are cased in armor,[471]And forth to the fight are gone!A place in the ranks awaits you;Each man has some part to play;The Past and the Future are nothingIn the face of sternTo-day.2. Arise from your dreams of the Future—Of gaining some hard-fought field,Of storming[472]some airy[473]fortress,[474]Or bidding some giant yield;Your future has deeds of glory,Of honor, (God grant it may!)But your arm will never be stronger,Or needed asnow—To-day.3. Arise! if the Past detain[475]you,Her sunshines and storms forget;No chains so unworthy to hold youAs those of a vain regret;Sad or bright, she is lifeless ever;Cast her phantom[476]arms away,Nor look back, save to learn the lessonOf a nobler strifeTo-day.4.Arise!for the day is passing!The sound that you scarcely hear,Is the enemy marching to battle!Rise!Rise!for the foe is near!Stay not to sharpen your weapons,Or the hour will strike at last,When, from dreams of a coming battle,You may wake to find it past!
1. Arise! for the day is passing,And you lie dreaming on;Your brothers are cased in armor,[471]And forth to the fight are gone!A place in the ranks awaits you;Each man has some part to play;The Past and the Future are nothingIn the face of sternTo-day.2. Arise from your dreams of the Future—Of gaining some hard-fought field,Of storming[472]some airy[473]fortress,[474]Or bidding some giant yield;Your future has deeds of glory,Of honor, (God grant it may!)But your arm will never be stronger,Or needed asnow—To-day.3. Arise! if the Past detain[475]you,Her sunshines and storms forget;No chains so unworthy to hold youAs those of a vain regret;Sad or bright, she is lifeless ever;Cast her phantom[476]arms away,Nor look back, save to learn the lessonOf a nobler strifeTo-day.4.Arise!for the day is passing!The sound that you scarcely hear,Is the enemy marching to battle!Rise!Rise!for the foe is near!Stay not to sharpen your weapons,Or the hour will strike at last,When, from dreams of a coming battle,You may wake to find it past!
1. Arise! for the day is passing,And you lie dreaming on;Your brothers are cased in armor,[471]And forth to the fight are gone!A place in the ranks awaits you;Each man has some part to play;The Past and the Future are nothingIn the face of sternTo-day.
1. Arise! for the day is passing,
And you lie dreaming on;
Your brothers are cased in armor,[471]
And forth to the fight are gone!
A place in the ranks awaits you;
Each man has some part to play;
The Past and the Future are nothing
In the face of sternTo-day.
2. Arise from your dreams of the Future—Of gaining some hard-fought field,Of storming[472]some airy[473]fortress,[474]Or bidding some giant yield;Your future has deeds of glory,Of honor, (God grant it may!)But your arm will never be stronger,Or needed asnow—To-day.
2. Arise from your dreams of the Future—
Of gaining some hard-fought field,
Of storming[472]some airy[473]fortress,[474]
Or bidding some giant yield;
Your future has deeds of glory,
Of honor, (God grant it may!)
But your arm will never be stronger,
Or needed asnow—To-day.
3. Arise! if the Past detain[475]you,Her sunshines and storms forget;No chains so unworthy to hold youAs those of a vain regret;Sad or bright, she is lifeless ever;Cast her phantom[476]arms away,Nor look back, save to learn the lessonOf a nobler strifeTo-day.
3. Arise! if the Past detain[475]you,
Her sunshines and storms forget;
No chains so unworthy to hold you
As those of a vain regret;
Sad or bright, she is lifeless ever;
Cast her phantom[476]arms away,
Nor look back, save to learn the lesson
Of a nobler strifeTo-day.
4.Arise!for the day is passing!The sound that you scarcely hear,Is the enemy marching to battle!Rise!Rise!for the foe is near!Stay not to sharpen your weapons,Or the hour will strike at last,When, from dreams of a coming battle,You may wake to find it past!
4.Arise!for the day is passing!
The sound that you scarcely hear,
Is the enemy marching to battle!
Rise!Rise!for the foe is near!
Stay not to sharpen your weapons,
Or the hour will strike at last,
When, from dreams of a coming battle,
You may wake to find it past!
[471]Armˊ-or, defensive arms.[472]Stormˊ-ing, taking by assault.[473]Airˊ-y, fanciful; visionary.[474]Forˊ-tress, fort; strong hold.[475]De-tainˊ, hinder; keep back.[476]Phanˊ-tom, specter; ghost-like.
[471]Armˊ-or, defensive arms.
[471]Armˊ-or, defensive arms.
[472]Stormˊ-ing, taking by assault.
[472]Stormˊ-ing, taking by assault.
[473]Airˊ-y, fanciful; visionary.
[473]Airˊ-y, fanciful; visionary.
[474]Forˊ-tress, fort; strong hold.
[474]Forˊ-tress, fort; strong hold.
[475]De-tainˊ, hinder; keep back.
[475]De-tainˊ, hinder; keep back.
[476]Phanˊ-tom, specter; ghost-like.
[476]Phanˊ-tom, specter; ghost-like.