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1819–1891

VI

James Russell Lowell

Great Truths are portions of the soul of man; Great souls are portions of Eternity; Each drop of blood that e'er through true heart ran With lofty message, ran for thee and me;

For God's law, since the starry song began, Hath been, and still forevermore must be, That every deed which shall outlast Time's span Must spur the soul to be erect and free;

Slave is no word of deathless lineage sprung; Too many noble souls have thought and died, Too many mighty poets lived and sung, And our good Saxon, from lips purified

With martyr-fire, throughout the world hath rung Too long to have God's holy cause denied.

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VI · James Russell Lowell · Poetry Cove