| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 734. Delay |
| | | By Charlotte Fiske Bates (Madame Rogé) |
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| I DO affirm that thou hast saved the race | |
| As much as thou hast ever made it lose: | |
| Men of quick action may thy name abuse, | |
| But the world’s life and theirs attest thy grace. | |
| An hour of thee doth sometimes turn the face | 5 |
| Of men and kingdoms, bidding them refuse | |
| What, chosen last, it had been death to choose: | |
| Through thee alone, they missed the fatal place. | |
| How often dies the guileful thought or end | |
| When guileless eyes detain us on our way! | 10 |
| What sin and shame that hindrance may forefend, | |
| Which we so hate and storm against today! | |
| What mighty evils over all impend, | |
| Averted graciously by kind Delay! | |
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