What went you forth to find?
What new thing would you know?
What secret read in the Mother of Mountains'
       blind, blind eyes?
What learn at her barren breast of snow?
For what new thing should men
       so strive, so agonize?
Some beauty? Some wisdom beyond the
       dream of the wise?
Nay, not for that we strove,
nor any new thing found;
but this truth, ancient and everlasting,
       did we prove,
this beauty, this wisdom
       on the high untrodden ground;

that where the safe ways end,
       known and unknown divide,
God's great uncharted passes upward tend,
and the spirit of man undaunted is undenied;
and beyond the last camp-fire
       man has faith for friend,
and beyond all guidance
       the courage of God for guide.