| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 1026. The Ideal |
| | | By Francis Saltus Saltus |
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| TOIL on, poor muser, to attain that goal | |
| Where Art conceals its grandest, noblest prize; | |
| Count every tear that dims your aching eyes, | |
| Count all the years that seem as days, and roll | |
| The death-tides slowly on; count all your sighs; | 5 |
| Search the wide, wondrous earth from pole to pole, | |
| Tear unbelief from out your martyred soul; | |
| Succumb not, chase despondency, be wise; | |
| Work, toil, and struggle with the brush or pen, | |
| Revel in rhyme, strain intellect and ken; | 10 |
| Live on and hope despite man’s sceptic leers; | |
| Praise the Ideal with your every breath, | |
| Give it life, youth and glory, blood and tears, | |
| And to possess it pay its tribute—Death. | |
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