 | The poetical works of Samuel Woodworth |  |
256
PRIZE ADDRESS,
ON THE OPENING OF A CIRCUS.
The cultured mind, accustomed to explore
And taste the choicest sweets of classic lore,
With rapture dwells on each inspiring lay
That paints the sports of Grecia's proudest day;
When the thronged stadium rang with loud acclaims,
To hail the victor in her manly games;
Those daring feats which famed Alcides taught,
To nerve the limb, and elevate the thought;
Feats which the royal Iphitus restored,
And consecrated to the powers adored;
Which gave to Greece a wreath of fadeless bloom,
And raised the glory of imperial Rome.
And taste the choicest sweets of classic lore,
With rapture dwells on each inspiring lay
That paints the sports of Grecia's proudest day;
When the thronged stadium rang with loud acclaims,
To hail the victor in her manly games;
Those daring feats which famed Alcides taught,
To nerve the limb, and elevate the thought;
Feats which the royal Iphitus restored,
And consecrated to the powers adored;
Which gave to Greece a wreath of fadeless bloom,
And raised the glory of imperial Rome.
There, the fleet courser, with an eye of flame.
Bold, like his rider—and as proud of fame,
Impatient champed the bit, or pawed the ground,
With ear erect, to catch the trumpet's sound;
Then, with a speed that mocked the passing wind,
Spurned the dull earth, and left the world behind.
And with him flew—erect upon his feet!
The bold equestrian, through the furious heat,
Reckless of danger—(such are Grecians still)—
The rein submitted to the courser's will,
While, at the target, with unerring art,
The fearless rider threw the whizzing dart!
Or, with a harnessed pair, of equal speed,
Vaulted with matchless grace, from steed to steed,
While mingled sounds of wonder and applause
Proclaimed the deepest interest in his cause;
Till, past the goal, and claimant of the prize,
When peals of acclamation pierced the skies.
Bold, like his rider—and as proud of fame,
Impatient champed the bit, or pawed the ground,
With ear erect, to catch the trumpet's sound;
Then, with a speed that mocked the passing wind,
Spurned the dull earth, and left the world behind.
And with him flew—erect upon his feet!
257
Reckless of danger—(such are Grecians still)—
The rein submitted to the courser's will,
While, at the target, with unerring art,
The fearless rider threw the whizzing dart!
Or, with a harnessed pair, of equal speed,
Vaulted with matchless grace, from steed to steed,
While mingled sounds of wonder and applause
Proclaimed the deepest interest in his cause;
Till, past the goal, and claimant of the prize,
When peals of acclamation pierced the skies.
With feats like these, to charm the present age,
And join the stadium to the modern stage;
To elevate the pleasures of the ring,
By every aid dramatic art can bring—
For this, you see, another fabric reared,
Where late a dreary, barren waste appeared!
For this, kind patrons, we would humbly sue,
To dedicate the tasteful fane to you.
And join the stadium to the modern stage;
To elevate the pleasures of the ring,
By every aid dramatic art can bring—
For this, you see, another fabric reared,
Where late a dreary, barren waste appeared!
For this, kind patrons, we would humbly sue,
To dedicate the tasteful fane to you.
Here shall Latona's bright-haired son impart
The sweetest lessons of his tuneful art;
Here may the eye of taste admire the speed,
And graceful prowess, of the generous steed;
And here, in pleased astonishment, may scan
The still more wondrous active powers of man.
Here, studious votaries of the classic page
May view the feats of Grecia's golden age;
Feats which secured the victors of the game
Unfading honors, and a deathless fame;
Inspired her youth with that chivalric glow
Which urged them onward to subdue the foe;
Which fired her sons with emulative zeal,
To rise the guardians of their country's weal;
To which she owed the glory of her state,
And that unconquered pride which made her great;
Preserved her freedom—gained the world's applause,
And prompts her now to be what then she was.
The sweetest lessons of his tuneful art;
Here may the eye of taste admire the speed,
And graceful prowess, of the generous steed;
And here, in pleased astonishment, may scan
The still more wondrous active powers of man.
258
May view the feats of Grecia's golden age;
Feats which secured the victors of the game
Unfading honors, and a deathless fame;
Inspired her youth with that chivalric glow
Which urged them onward to subdue the foe;
Which fired her sons with emulative zeal,
To rise the guardians of their country's weal;
To which she owed the glory of her state,
And that unconquered pride which made her great;
Preserved her freedom—gained the world's applause,
And prompts her now to be what then she was.
And if like causes like effects produce,
If you admit the stadium's wondrous use,
May not a thousand equal blessings spring
From such achievements as shall grace our ring?
May not our patriot youth, who here perceive
What sprightliness and courage can achieve,
Be fired with emulation to command
“The fiery steed, and train him to their hand!”
To vault, like feathered Hermes, on his back,
And fearless guide him to the fierce attack;
To wield the sabre, or direct the dart,
And boldly practise each equestrian art;
To wrestle, leap, or throw the pondrous quoit,
And bear away the palm in each exploit?
If you admit the stadium's wondrous use,
May not a thousand equal blessings spring
From such achievements as shall grace our ring?
May not our patriot youth, who here perceive
What sprightliness and courage can achieve,
Be fired with emulation to command
“The fiery steed, and train him to their hand!”
To vault, like feathered Hermes, on his back,
And fearless guide him to the fierce attack;
To wield the sabre, or direct the dart,
And boldly practise each equestrian art;
To wrestle, leap, or throw the pondrous quoit,
And bear away the palm in each exploit?
259
Yes, generous patrons—thus our gallant youth,
Champions of freedom, honor, love, and truth,
Will learn to guard the sacred rights you prize,
And raise Columbia's glory to the skies;
In every clime behold her flag unfurled,
Till Freedom's golden star shall light the world.
Champions of freedom, honor, love, and truth,
Will learn to guard the sacred rights you prize,
And raise Columbia's glory to the skies;
In every clime behold her flag unfurled,
Till Freedom's golden star shall light the world.
| The poetical works of Samuel Woodworth | |