Through generation's span
With surest feet I ran,
And pressed my giant claim,
And hid my power of name,
Leaping from man to man.
Silent, adventurous, sly,
I seek the canopy
Where weaklings crouch and croon,
Or in the midnight moon
With Lazarus I lie.
Or, Dives lifting up
His bravest, fullest cup,
No matter where he stand,
Behold me at his hand
Unseen to lurk and sup.
If strength have overshot
My footsteps and forgot
My ways, till the world seems
To dream salubrious dreams,
Yet sleep not, world, sleep not -
For I shall rise in might,
Baring my brow to sight,
And men shall fear to see
And know Heredity,
And pale before the fight!