The waves, the winds of Circumstance!
What arm their strength can stem?
What struggling mortal has a chance
To bind or buffet them?
Against these rapids who can swim,-
And not be hurl'd away
Over Niagara's boiling brim,-
The torrent of To-day?

Ah! trust not, Man, to thine own strength;
Ah! boast not of thy power;
Thy best in all its breadth and length
Will break in any hour:
Let but Temptation touch the line
Electrical within,
That spark will spring the secret mine
Of Nature's ready sin!

If some sun-chance, and some moon-change
Of passion's light and heat
Within Occasion's comet-range
By bad conjunction meet,-
Behold a Deluge! to o'erwhelm
The wisdom and the worth
Of mortal's noblest spirit-realm,
The pattern-man of earth!

O tower of strength! O God, O Friend!
Defend us by Thy power;
Till we have reach'd our trial's end,
Uphold us every hour!
Each step we venture in advance
Is full of woes unknown,
If Thou enfranchise Circumstance,
And leave us all alone!