Awake, my soul! stretch every nerve,

And press with vigour on;

A heavenly race demands thy zeal,

And an immortal crown.

Philip Doddridge (1702-1751): Zeal and Vigour in the Christian Race.

What, will the line stretch out to the crack of doom?

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Macbeth. Act iv. Sc. 1.