'Let us now praise famous men'
Men of little showing
For their work continueth,
And their work continueth,
Broad and deep continueth,
Greater than their knowing!
Western wind and open surge
Took us from our mothers;
Flung us on a naked shore
(Twelve bleak houses by the shore!
Seven summers by the shore!)
'Mid two hundred brothers.
There we met with famous men
Set in office o'er us.
And they beat on us with rods
Faithfully with many rods
Daily beat us on with rods
For the love they bore us.
Out of Egypt unto Troy
Over Himalaya
Far and sure our bands have gone
Hy-Brasil or Babylon,
Islands of the Southern Run,
And cities of Cathaia!
And we all praise famous men
Ancients of the College;
For they taught us common sense
Tried to teach us common sense
Truth and God's Own Common Sense
Which is more than knowledge!
Each degree of Latitude
Strung about Creation
Seeth one (or more) of us,
(Of one muster all of us),
Diligent in that he does,
Keen in his vocation.
This we learned from famous men
Knowing not its uses,
When they showed, in daily work
Man must finish off his work
Right or wrong, his daily work-
And without excuses.
Servants of the staff and chain,
Mine and fuse and grapnel
Some before the face of Kings,
Stand before the face of Kings;
Bearing gifts to divers Kings
Gifts of Case and Shrapnel.
This we learned from famous men
Teaching in our borders.
Who declare'd it was best,
Safest, easiest and best
Expeditious, wise and best
To obey your orders.
Some beneath the further stars
Bear the greater burden.
Set to serve the lands they rule,
(Save he serve no man may rule)
Serve and love the lands they rule;
Seeking praise nor guerdon.
This we learned from famous men
Knowing not we learned it.
Only, as the years went by
Lonely, as the years went by
Far from help as years went by
Plainer we discerned it.
Wherefore praise we famous men
Prom whose bays we borrow
They that put aside Today
All the joys of their Today
And with toil of their Today
Bought for us Tomorrow!
Bless and praise we famous men
Men of little showing!
For their work continueth
And their work continueth
Broad and deep continueth
Great beyond their knowing!