HE had bowed down to drunkenness, br An abject worshipper: br The pride of manhood's pulse had grown br Too faint and cold to stir; br And he had given his spirit up br To the unblessëd thrall, br And bowing to the poison cup, br He gloried in his fall! br There came a change —the cloud rolled off, br And light fell on his brain — br And like the passing of a dream br That cometh not again, br The shadow of the spirit fled. br He saw the gulf before, br He shuddered at the waste behind, br And was a man once more. br He shook the serpent folds away, br That gathered round his heart, br As shakes the swaying forest-oak br Its poison vine apart; br He stood erect; returning pride br Grew terrible within, br And conscience sat in judgment, on br His most familiar sin. br The light of Intellect again br Along his pathway shone; br And Reason like a monarch sat br Upon his olden throne. br The honored and the wise once more br Within his presence came; br And lingered oft on lovely lips br His once forbidden name.