Eclipse of Freedom, the base altruists’ dream,
For thoughtless men may last their lifelong years,
But reas’ning men will fight with bright’ning beam
His evil lust, till shackles melt to tears
On faces Joy reclaims, and Freedom’s light
Again breaks through the shadows of false night.
Eclipse of slav’ry then—be steady, stay!—
Will last as long as Reason has men’s trust,
Will live as long as Selfishness is just,
With Independence held as virtue high,
And Honesty—the Great—be praised a-new.
Eclipse of bad by good, of low by high,
Eclipse of selfless by self-seeing eye,
Must be the saving beauty that we view.