The poetical works of Samuel Woodworth

What is true greatness? In the Eternal Mind
'T is wisdom, love, and potency combined;
In man, his image, it is truth in thought,
Embraced, beloved, and into action brought;
In one bright spirit all these virtues met,
And blessed the world with glorious Lafayette,
Whose feelings, thoughts, and acts united, ran
To one grand point—the happiness of man.
No blemish stained the escutcheon which he bore;
If he loved glory—he loved virtue more:
Heir to a splendid name, rank, title, power,
And princely fortune—from the elysian bower
Of youthful wedlock, which an Eden bloomed
By breath of angel tenderness perfumed,
He tore himself away—at Freedom's call,
In Freedom's cause resolved at stand or fall.
From a voluptuous court, where all caressed,
He flew to join her votaries in the West;

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Here, with a stripling's arm, he bared the blade,
The drooping cause of Liberty to aid;
Resolved for glory's dazzling goal to run,
And share the prize with none but Washington.

Was this not greatness?—Triumph or defeat—
The furious onset—masterly retreat—
Skill, courage, patience, conduct, and address—
Yet great in all—till crowned with bright success
He saw our country free; with laurelled brow
Beheld her God-like chief resume the plough;
Then sought his much-loved, native land again,
To beard the fiend Oppression in his den,
Bearing a torch from Freedom's blazing shrine,
Which lights the world, and will for ever shine.

Whether beheld in Victory's brightest hour,
Or as a fugitive from lawless power;
In the dark cells of Olmutz, crushed with chains,
Still not a spot his laurel chaplet stains.
Freed by Napoleon's arms—e'en gratitude
His love of truth and virtue ne'er subdued.
With manly pride he princely honors spurned,
And to his fireside—loved La Grange—returned.
Was greatness his, whom cursed ambition fired
To mount a throne—or Lafayette's, retired?

But time rolled on—the hero came once more,
And millions hailed him “Welcome to our shore!”

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That was a triumph “meet for gods to view,
And men, like gods”—what monarchs never knew.
But oh! the moral grandeur of that hour,
When introduced beneath our senate's dome,
That solemn conclave hailed him “Welcome home!”
Leaves human language destitute of power
To do it justice. It was more sublime
Than any scene upon the page of time.

And when he saw the sages of the land,
Convened to place in one deserving hand
The reins of power, the car of state to guide,
In peace or war, whatever fate betide;
A chief installed without the vain parade
Which dazzles vassals, when their king are made:
Fired with the moral grandeur of the scene,
With tear-drops gushing from an eye serene,
He saw—he heard—and, with high-throbbing breast,
Pronounced Columbia's sons supremely blest.

But lo! in France oppression reigns again,
And Lafayette, at three-score years and ten,
Plucks from the Bourbon brow the jewelled crown,
While the weak despot, shrinking from his frown,
Yields him the sceptre, flying in disgrace—
The last, the worst of that degenerate race!

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Millions of hearts, and hands, and voices, now
Had placed upon the patriot's silvery brow
That dazzling diadem—but he was yet
Greater than monarchs—he was Lafayette!
On younger brows he placed the glittering thing,
And swore allegiance to the new-made king:
This was true greatness—for this act surpassed
The loftiest stretch of thought—it was the last—
And it approached so near the heavenly goal,
Earth could no longer hold so pure a soul;
But, filled with virtue, wisdom, truth, and love,
'T was called to wear a diadem above.
We mourn him not on this august occasion—
We celebrate his heavenly coronation!

This tribute to the memory and virtues of Lafayette, was recited by William Wiley, Esq., at the Chatham-street chapel, in the city of New York, on the evening of the eighteenth of December, 1834, preparatory to a eulogy on the life and character of the distinguished patriot.

University of Virginia Library

A TRIBUTE TO LAFAYETTE.