The world's great age begins anew,
    The golden years return, 
The earth doth like a snake renew
    Her winter weeds outworn: 
Heaven smiles, and faiths and empires gleam,
Like wrecks of a dissolving dream.

A brighter Hellas rears its mountains
    From waves serener far; 
A new Peneus rolls his fountains
    Against the morning star. 
Where fairer Tempes bloom, there sleep
Young Cyclads on a sunnier deep.

Another Athens shall arise,
    And to remoter time 
Bequeath, like sunset to the skies,
    The splendour of its prime; 
And leave, if nought so bright may live,
All earth can take or Heaven can give.

Oh, cease! must hate and death return?
    Cease! must men kill and die? 
Cease! drain not to its dregs the urn
    Of bitter prophecy. 
The world is weary of the past,
Oh, might it die or rest at last!