Poems and miscellanies selected from the writings of Miss Eliza Townsend Printed but not published |
 |
LINES SUGGESTED BY A STUDY-CHAIR
|
 |
 | Poems and miscellanies selected from the writings of Miss Eliza Townsend |  |
159
LINES SUGGESTED BY A STUDY-CHAIR
BELONGING TO THE LATE HORACE HOLLEY.
Pastor, philosopher, and friend!
Who fill'st this sacred seat no more,
Might I without presumption bend,
And lean where thou hast leaned before?
Who fill'st this sacred seat no more,
Might I without presumption bend,
And lean where thou hast leaned before?
Memorial of a master mind,
With power to bring its owner near,
In living light, like that which shined
Throughout his bright but brief career;
With power to bring its owner near,
In living light, like that which shined
Throughout his bright but brief career;
In inspiration, mien, and air,
In form and FRONT, “how like a God!”
Such glorious creatures, some declare,
From higher spheres have walked abroad.
In form and FRONT, “how like a God!”
Such glorious creatures, some declare,
From higher spheres have walked abroad.
160
Yet those “called gods must die like men,”
And such the stern and fixed decree
Which leaves thee, till we meet again,
But an immortal memory.
And such the stern and fixed decree
Which leaves thee, till we meet again,
But an immortal memory.
Thy steady stand at Truth's high call,
Thy eloquence that fought and won,
Thy courtesy that cared for all,
Yet, independent, cringed to none;
Thy eloquence that fought and won,
Thy courtesy that cared for all,
Yet, independent, cringed to none;
With candid faith, the only shield
Thy generous zeal would deign to choose;
Ah, vain celestial arms to wield
'Gainst arts thyself had scorned to use!
Thy generous zeal would deign to choose;
Ah, vain celestial arms to wield
'Gainst arts thyself had scorned to use!
Were but thy mantle fallen here,
But part of these, thy spirit's fund,
Where but a blank can now appear;
Who would have asked or wished beyond?
But part of these, thy spirit's fund,
Where but a blank can now appear;
Who would have asked or wished beyond?
It may not be! But memory yet
Faithful thine image shall retain;
Which who that saw can e'er forget,
Or look upon its like again?
Faithful thine image shall retain;
Which who that saw can e'er forget,
Or look upon its like again?
| Poems and miscellanies selected from the writings of Miss Eliza Townsend | |