The miscellaneous works of David Humphreys Late Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America to the Court of Madrid |
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 | The miscellaneous works of David Humphreys |  |
Though chiefly doom'd to light our nation's birth,
Our luminary rose to bless the earth.
His mind by human frailties scarcely stain'd,
One spotless course of rectitude maintain'd:
His mind, a moral sun, with cheering ray,
Rejoic'd to scatter intellectual day,
A light among the nations shining clear,
To gild the darkness in each hemisphere!
Say, dazzling conq'rors! who as comets glar'd,
How mean your splendour when to his compar'd!
Nor cold his mind. When cold his count'nance seem'd,
Within, concent'ring rays still brighter beam'd.
Such moderation with such firmness mix'd,
Just in the golden mean his conduct fix'd;
Alike with feeling, as with patience, blest,
The proud oppressor and the poor opprest
He taught, that man full oft by man betray'd,
By heav'n for social happiness was made—
He taught, how long a nation wrongs may bear,
And when th' unknown of innovation dare—
He taught mankind (if truth can make them wise)
That for self-government their pow'rs suffice.
Our luminary rose to bless the earth.
His mind by human frailties scarcely stain'd,
One spotless course of rectitude maintain'd:
His mind, a moral sun, with cheering ray,
Rejoic'd to scatter intellectual day,
A light among the nations shining clear,
To gild the darkness in each hemisphere!
Say, dazzling conq'rors! who as comets glar'd,
How mean your splendour when to his compar'd!
Nor cold his mind. When cold his count'nance seem'd,
Within, concent'ring rays still brighter beam'd.
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Just in the golden mean his conduct fix'd;
Alike with feeling, as with patience, blest,
The proud oppressor and the poor opprest
He taught, that man full oft by man betray'd,
By heav'n for social happiness was made—
He taught, how long a nation wrongs may bear,
And when th' unknown of innovation dare—
He taught mankind (if truth can make them wise)
That for self-government their pow'rs suffice.
| The miscellaneous works of David Humphreys | |