He came not as the princes born to rule,
But humbly, as the son of pioneers;
Like them, of stern necessity the tool,
Heir to their solitude, their need, their tears.
Unschooled, unprepossessing, long unwanted
By those he offered constantly to serve,
Ill-starred in love, in commerce, still undaunted
He grew, though slighted, steadfast to deserve.
Little of grace or comeliness endearing,
Nothing of wiles had he to smooth his way;
But strength, which first from deep woods wrenched his clearing,
His birthright was, and sunlike brought his day.
And by its might a race stood forth unfettered,
A death-shocked nation lived, a world was bettered.

He came not as the princes born to rule,
—But humbly, as the son of pioneers;
Like them, of stern necessity the tool,
—Heir to their solitude, their need, their tears.
Unschooled, unprepossessing, long unwanted
—By those he offered constantly to serve,
Ill-starred in love, in commerce, still undaunted
—He grew, though slighted, steadfast to deserve.
Little of grace or comeliness endearing,
—Nothing of wiles had he to smooth his way;
But strength, which first from deep woods wrenched his clearing,
—His birthright was, and sunlike brought his day.
And by its might a race stood forth unfettered,
A death-shocked nation lived, a world was bettered.