 | Madeline |  |
244
XLI. ON THE STATESMAN.
Ruler of men, for whom the place
Of forethought was devised,
Thy noble destiny embrace,
For honour thou hast prized!
Thou, thy loved country's willing hack,
Wouldst lift this earthly dome!
The world itself is on thy back,
The weight of every home.
Of forethought was devised,
Thy noble destiny embrace,
For honour thou hast prized!
Thou, thy loved country's willing hack,
Wouldst lift this earthly dome!
The world itself is on thy back,
The weight of every home.
Thy share of life is not its joys;
Thou dreadest their excess:
Thine is a task which half alloys
The round of happiness.
Thy presence is the Future's page;
Between our hour and thine
The world has run another stage,
To prosper or decline.
Thou dreadest their excess:
Thine is a task which half alloys
The round of happiness.
Thy presence is the Future's page;
Between our hour and thine
The world has run another stage,
To prosper or decline.
Yet from the annals of the dead
Are thy forewarnings brought;
Historic lore is daily bread
To thy prophetic thought.
The else neglected paths maintained
By signals on the road,
The gateway to thy rest is gained
Under the heavy load.
Thus travelling sweetly to thy sleep,
As once to study's grove,
Dreams not untrue thy senses steep
In man's immortal love.
Are thy forewarnings brought;
Historic lore is daily bread
To thy prophetic thought.
245
By signals on the road,
The gateway to thy rest is gained
Under the heavy load.
Thus travelling sweetly to thy sleep,
As once to study's grove,
Dreams not untrue thy senses steep
In man's immortal love.
EPODE.
'Tis thus the young draw profit from the old:Their works inherit, mines of wealth untold!
| Madeline | |