One hour devoted to the pursuit of Beauty br And Love is worth a full century of glory br Given by the frightened weak to the strong. br br br From that hour comes man's Truth; and br During that century Truth sleeps between br The restless arms of disturbing dreams. br br br In that hour the soul sees for herself br The Natural Law, and for that century she br Imprisons herself behind the law of man; br And she is shackled with irons of oppression. br br br That hour was the inspiration of the Songs br Of Solomon, an that century was the blind br Power which destroyed the temple of Baalbek. br br br That hour was the birth of the Sermon on the br Mount, and that century wrecked the castles of br Palmyra and the Tower of Babylon. br br br That hour was the Hegira of Mohammed and that br Century forgot Allah, Golgotha, and Sinai. br br br One hour devoted to mourning and lamenting the br Stolen equality of the weak is nobler than a br Century filled with greed and usurpation. br br br It is at that hour when the heart is br Purified by flaming sorrow and br Illuminated by the torch of Love. br And in that century, desires for Truth br Are buried in the bosom of the earth. br That hour is the root which must flourish. br That hour of meditation, the hour of br Prayer, and the hour of a new era of good. br br br And that century is a life of Nero spent br On self-investment taken solely from br Earthly substance. br br br This is life. br Portrayed on the stage for ages; br Recorded earthly for centuries; br Lived in strangeness for years; br Sung as a hymn for days; br Exalted but for an hour, but the br Hour is treasured by Eternity as a jewel.