Madmoments: or First Verseattempts By a Bornnatural. Addressed to the Lightheaded of Society at Large, by Henry Ellison |
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SUGGESTED BY THE FIRST FRENCH REVOLUTION. |
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| II. |
 | Madmoments: or First Verseattempts |  |
SUGGESTED BY THE FIRST FRENCH REVOLUTION.
— There are Occasions,When Cowards-selves fling off their Nothingness,
And giantize their Thoughts unto the Shape
And Temper of the Times, and in their own
Despite become the Instruments of Fate;
Swelled into Heroes, that pass muster with
The easygullëd Multitude, which feeds
Upon the Garbage of Opinion; and
Yet afterall, they're but Strawsubstitutes,
Just patched up for the Nonce, to fool the Herd,
Which looks but at the Surface, and if that
But glitters, there it points its Finger, there
Its Shouts and Praises follow — what, shall then
Men of real Mark and Likelihood play false
Unto themselves, when ripe Occasion smiles
And beckons onward to the Goal? no! let
Them match the Time: the Tide must at the Full
Be taken, else they will be left upon
The strand to rot: and if the Good hold back,
When selfish men and bad would grasp the Helm,
The vessel of the State must perish, and
Its goodly Freight be lost unto Mankind.
Then, Goodmen, stand ye forward: for the Hearths
Of your dear Homes, and for the Altar of
Your God, all Sacrifice is little— who
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Had God held back, in what state should we be
E'en at this moment? and if he thus gave
His Son, his spirit, his ownself, shall we
Grudge him a little Dust and Dross of Earth?
And that too for our Good alone: then keep
Not back: with Voice and Hand uphold the Right;
Even a Woman, Sickman, or a Child,
Can speak the Right, and where they do so, God
Speaks by them! and, when He speaks, e'en the Dumb
Have Ears to understand Him! and if all
Together speak, who shall withstand the Voice
Of God himself-for that which all men feel
And speak, that is the Feeling, is the Voice,
Of God himself!
| Madmoments: or First Verseattempts | |