...dipt into the future, far as human eye could see, Saw the Vision of the world, and all the wonders that would be; Saw the heavens fill with commerce,...of the purple twilight, dropping down with costly bails . . . A couplet later, the blessing turns to a curse. Tennyson foresees a conflict eerily like...

...bring about a final war in the air that leads to universal peace and unity: . . .and there rain'da ghastly dew From the nations' airy navies grappling in the central blue. . . . Till the war-drum throbb'd no longer, and the battle-flags were furl'd In the Parliament of man,...