Softly the loud peal dies, In passing winds it drowns, But breathes, like perfect joys, Tender tones.

Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow.

How like the leper, with his own sad cry Enforcing his own solitude, it tolls! That lonely bell set in the rushing shoals, To warn us from the place of jeopardy!

Ring out, will bells, to the wild sky, The flying cloud, the frosty light.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease; Ring out the narrowing lust of gold; Ring out the thousand wars of old, Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free, The larger heart, the kindlier hand; Ring out the darkness of the land; Ring in the Christ that is to be.