Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: sonality of the Prophet, to exhibit these questions as they pass through the mind of the idealist. The poem recognizes the principle of evolution, but seeks to transcend this with the higher thought of the ultimate reality of the spirit. It is an attempt at a synthesis of the essential ideas of Darwin and Emerson. The frank use of the subject-matter of science in poetry may be called in question, but a justification for this is found in the recognition of love as the animating principle beneath all the conflict and tumult of the ages. ?. ?. ?. Berkeley Cal. August, 1896 THE PROMISE OF THE AGES. chapter{Section 4t-. ?--; .."--, : -,. . ..! ... . ?. Jfl- i ? .: THE PROMISE OF THE AGES. BOOK I. In meadows prank'd with sun-enamour'd flowers, 'Mid cool wood wilds, fern-paved and leaf-embower'd, On mountain steeps, by ocean's storm-rent strand, Young Percival, unwearied, wandered on Through life's fair pageant, truth intoxicate,— Vain searcher—pleading at the van of time For some still voice from earth's mute lips of stone, Some sign amid the senseless trees that sway— Canst find no respite from inconstancy ? The very seasons glided 'neath his gaze Like ebb and flow of ocean's tireless tide, And fair day floated far on wings of gloom. The birds, o'erladen with their golden song, Swept like a gale of joy through spring's glad bow'rs, By faith impelled to love's blest miracle. Then busy bills upgather'd flexile sprays, The willow's bloom or drifted thistle-down,— And homes were shaped to hold the dappled eggs. Life's mystery revealed the callow young, By watchful care upreared, by love made strong; But, like the leaves that fall from autumn's boughs, They scatter'd from the groves and left them dr...