 | [In Memoriam, in] William Barton Rogers ... an address delivered before the Society of the Alumni of the University of Virginia, on Commencement Day, June 27, 1883 |  |
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In Memoriam.
WILLIAM BARTON ROGERS.
Brooklets and birds, in mingling tune,
New life o'er all the landscape pour;
Again the balmy breath of June
Invites to roam our tranquil shore.
New life o'er all the landscape pour;
Again the balmy breath of June
Invites to roam our tranquil shore.
Old Ocean spreads a level floor,
The heavens serenely bend above;
Nature's full choir intones once more
The praise of all-embracing love.
The heavens serenely bend above;
Nature's full choir intones once more
The praise of all-embracing love.
And yet a veil of sadness lies
O'er all this lovely region spread;
A charm has vanished from our eyes;
From the sweet scene a grace has fled!
O'er all this lovely region spread;
A charm has vanished from our eyes;
From the sweet scene a grace has fled!
We feel that from our earthly day
A beam of sunny light is gone—
A kindling and a cheering ray
Of friendship, from our life withdrawn.
A beam of sunny light is gone—
A kindling and a cheering ray
Of friendship, from our life withdrawn.
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But, blessèd faith! while earth is thus
Poorer and lonelier than before,
Heaven is still richer, and for us
Has now one charm and promise more.
Poorer and lonelier than before,
Heaven is still richer, and for us
Has now one charm and promise more.
O sainted friend! farewell and hail!
Removed from sight, yet not afar;
Still through this earthly twilight-veil
Thou beamest down, a friendly star!
Removed from sight, yet not afar;
Still through this earthly twilight-veil
Thou beamest down, a friendly star!
The Prophet's blessing comes to thee;
The crown he holds to view is thine;
Forever more thy memory
In Heaven and in our hearts shall shine.
The crown he holds to view is thine;
Forever more thy memory
In Heaven and in our hearts shall shine.
Poet and Orator wast thou
Of Science! Nature's glowing face
Illumed thy eyes; her radiant brow
Lent thine a glory and a grace.
Of Science! Nature's glowing face
Illumed thy eyes; her radiant brow
Lent thine a glory and a grace.
The silvery music of thy speech,
A crystal river flowed along;
What labored lore could never teach,
Was breathed as from a lyric song.
A crystal river flowed along;
What labored lore could never teach,
Was breathed as from a lyric song.
A cloud hath snatched thee from our sight;
Thy voice is hushed to mortal ears;
Thou listenest in the heavenly height
The longed-for music of the spheres.
Thy voice is hushed to mortal ears;
Thou listenest in the heavenly height
The longed-for music of the spheres.
C. T. B. Newport, June 16, 1882.
| [In Memoriam, in] William Barton Rogers ... an address delivered before the Society of the Alumni of the University of Virginia, on Commencement Day, June 27, 1883 | |