" My hand is strong, my heart is bold,
My purpose stern, " I said;
" And shall I rest till I have wreath'd
Fame's garland round my head?
No! men shall point to me, and say,
" See what the bold can do!" "
" You dream! " a chilling whisper said;
And quick the vision flew.

" Yes, I will gain, " I musing thought,
" Power, pomp, and potency;
Whate'er the proudest may have been,
That straightway will I be.
I'll write my name on human hearts
So deep 't will ne'er decay! "
" You dream! " and as the whisper spoke,
My vision fled away.

" I'm poor! " I said; " but I will toil
And gather store of gold;
And in my purse the fate of kings
And nations I will hold:
I'll follow fortune, till my path
With wealth untold she strew! "
Again, " You dream! " the whisper said,
And straight my vision flew.

" I'll breathe to men, " I proudly thought,
A strain of poesy,
Like the angelic songs of old,
In fire and energy.
My thoughts the thoughts of many lands,
Of many men shall grow; "
" You dream! " the whisper scorning said —
I dared not answer, no.

If I can gain nor name nor power,
Nor gold, by high emprise,
Bread to the hungry I will give,
And dry the orphan's eyes:
Through me the sun of joy shall find
Its way to sorrow's door:
" The wildest dream of all, " then said
The whisper — " you are poor! "

" I'm poor, unheeded; but I'll be
An honest man, " I said;
" Truth I shall worship, yea, and feel
For all whom G OD hath made: —
The poor and honest man can stand,
With an unblenching brow,
Before earth's highest, — such I'll be: " —
The whisper spoke not now!