Through the strait pass of suffering－1
The Martyrs－even－trod.
Their feet－upon Temptations－
Their faces－upon God－
A stately－shriven－Company－5
Convulsion－playing round－
Harmless－as streaks of Meteor－
Upon a Planet's Bond－
Their faith－the everlasting troth－9
Their Expectation－fair－
The Needle－to the North Degree－
Wades－so－thro' polar Air!
The Martyrs－even－trod.
Their feet－upon Temptations－
Their faces－upon God－
A stately－shriven－Company－5
Convulsion－playing round－
Harmless－as streaks of Meteor－
Upon a Planet's Bond－
Their faith－the everlasting troth－9
Their Expectation－fair－
The Needle－to the North Degree－
Wades－so－thro' polar Air!
(F.187/J.792)
[1, 2] suffering, Martyrs:: polar explorers who suffer for their belief.
[3] Temptation:: of the exploration.
[4] faces upon God:: direction upon God's will, uncontrollable.
[5] Shriven:: confessed, a truth disclosed (of the North Pole).
[6] Convulsion:: a tumult, during the exploration.
[8] Bond:: a place being restrained.
[9] everlasting troth:: repeating their pledge continuously.
[10] Expectation fair:: a valid, ample prospect.
[11, 12] North, Polar:: a hint on the North Pole.
This city was named Kane, in honor of a gentleman of that name (a brother of Dr. E. K. Kane, the Polar explorer), who was then their guest, and who has since given a graphic account of this remarkable exodus, in a lecture before the Pennsylvania Historical Society. ─ Harper's Magazine, Volume VI (1853)