Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.

By William DeanHowells

708 Judgment Day

BEFORE Him weltered like a shoreless sea

The souls of them that had not sought to be,

With all their guilt upon them, and they cried,

They that had sinned from hate and lust and pride,

“Thou that didst make us what we might become,

Judge us!” The Judge of all the earth was dumb;

But high above them, in His sovereign place,

He lifted up the pity of His face.