A man said unto his Angel: br "My spirits are fallen low, br And I cannot carry this battle: br O brother! where might I go? br br "The terrible Kings are on me br With spears that are deadly bright; br Against me so from the cradle br Do fate and my fathers fight." br br Then said to the man his Angel: br "Thou wavering, witless soul, br Back to the ranks! What matter br To win or to lose the whole, br br "As judged by the little judges br Who hearken not well, nor see? br Not thus, by the outer issue, br The Wise shall interpret thee. br br "Thy will is the sovereign measure br And only events of things: br The puniest heart, defying, br Were stronger than all these Kings. br br "Though out of the past they gather, br Mind's Doubt, and Bodily Pain, br And pallid Thirst of the Spirit br That is kin to the other twain, br br "And Grief, in a cloud of banners, br And ringletted Vain Desires, br And Vice, with the spoils upon him br Of thee and thy beaten sires, -- br br "While Kings of eternal evil br Yet darken the hills about, br Thy part is with broken sabre br To rise on the last redoubt; br br "To fear not sensible failure, br Nor covet the game at all, br But fighting, fighting, fighting, br Die, driven against the wall.