The Dawn of Truth

294 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Across the great landscape of time, O'er which successive ages hung, The prophets saw this dawn sublime. And of these mighty rockies sung. They saw the listless world asleep Down in the shadow of the vale; They saw eternal judgment sweep Across our Egypt and her Baal. They saw the restless powers of earth, Proud citadel, shrine, senate, crown, Eternally, as at a breath, With fearful clash of arms, go down. Amid the dust of empires great, A standard, glorious in the dawn, Rose on the ruined walls of state. And crumbling parliaments of man. They saw, along the lighted way. The federations of the world. In whose eternal union lay Its hostile flags forever furled. Behold the tower of Zion, high Above the hills! The morning throws The glory of the flaming sky Upon it, blushing like a rose.