 | My Mind and its Thoughts, in Sketches, Fragments, and Essays |  |
EPISTLE,
TO THEOPHILUS PARSONS,
This great and good man, the ornament of his profession, of his country, and of the world, having, in the highest judicial station, enlightened by his wisdom and instructed by his virtues but for the short term of eight years, was then, by divine will, suddenly called from life, its usefulness, and its honours, before disease or decay had weakened the faculties of his unequalled mind, or touched the kind temper of his feeling heart.
In commemoration of him who cannot die, an obituary delineation
will be found on these pages; a delineation inadequate,
but expressive of the gratitude which favours and
benefits had inspired, and will perpetuate with the existence
of memory and mind in the author.
UPON HIS ACCEPTING THE APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT OF MASSACHUSETTS.
This great and good man, the ornament of his profession, of his country, and of the world, having, in the highest judicial station, enlightened by his wisdom and instructed by his virtues but for the short term of eight years, was then, by divine will, suddenly called from life, its usefulness, and its honours, before disease or decay had weakened the faculties of his unequalled mind, or touched the kind temper of his feeling heart.
In commemoration of him who cannot die, an obituary delineation will be found on these pages; a delineation inadequate, but expressive of the gratitude which favours and benefits had inspired, and will perpetuate with the existence of memory and mind in the author.
And does that mind, which every mind excels,
Quit the proud path where fame triumphant dwells?
While at her side prolific fortune stands,
And showers her bounty with unsparing hands—
Bids but thy genius ask, and all obey—
Why fling the doubly proffered boon away?
For the dull bench, the inspiring robe disclaim,
False to thyself, to fortune, and to fame!
Quit the proud path where fame triumphant dwells?
While at her side prolific fortune stands,
And showers her bounty with unsparing hands—
Bids but thy genius ask, and all obey—
Why fling the doubly proffered boon away?
For the dull bench, the inspiring robe disclaim,
False to thyself, to fortune, and to fame!
Thou like an eastern monarch, reign'st alone,
Nor could the aspiring brother reach thy throne,
Or like a giant towering o'er thy kind,
In all the wondrous majesty of mind;
More strong than monarchs—thine the nobler sway
And yielded claim, which kindred souls obey.
Nor could the aspiring brother reach thy throne,
Or like a giant towering o'er thy kind,
In all the wondrous majesty of mind;
More strong than monarchs—thine the nobler sway
And yielded claim, which kindred souls obey.
But now uncheered by glory's vertic rays,
Tedious and tame will lour thy shadowy days.
Condemned to heed the ever-during plea—
Which endless folly blundering pours on thee.
Tedious and tame will lour thy shadowy days.
Condemned to heed the ever-during plea—
Which endless folly blundering pours on thee.
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Or stifling all thy gentle heart's desire,
With warning accents, bid the wretch expire!
Even him, whose wrongs awake the generous sigh,
Him, may unseeing justice doom to die!
With warning accents, bid the wretch expire!
Even him, whose wrongs awake the generous sigh,
Him, may unseeing justice doom to die!
Lo, then thy fate! with pained and patient ear,
The hard monotony of words to bear,
Misguided error, wandering far from sense,
Pride's pompous boast, and passion's bold pretence
Await thee now—from morn's unwelcome ray,
To the slow shadows of retreating day;—
The hard monotony of words to bear,
Misguided error, wandering far from sense,
Pride's pompous boast, and passion's bold pretence
Await thee now—from morn's unwelcome ray,
To the slow shadows of retreating day;—
What though some soaring genius, true to thine,
In mental radiance bid the forum shine,
Deep—fervid, full; with sacred science fraught.
And all the graced pre-eminence of thought,
Forceful as reason in her high career—
Yet falls like music on the astonished ear.
When, as a charm, the fluent strain is found,
To bid enamoured silence hover round,
Calling from thee that smile which seems to speak.
Gives the delighted flush to pass thy cheek.—
More dark will seem the void, his pause supplies,
More bleak the wild that mocks thy searching eyes.
In mental radiance bid the forum shine,
Deep—fervid, full; with sacred science fraught.
And all the graced pre-eminence of thought,
Forceful as reason in her high career—
Yet falls like music on the astonished ear.
When, as a charm, the fluent strain is found,
To bid enamoured silence hover round,
Calling from thee that smile which seems to speak.
Gives the delighted flush to pass thy cheek.—
More dark will seem the void, his pause supplies,
More bleak the wild that mocks thy searching eyes.
Poor is the mead the uncherished muse can give,
'Tis thine to honour, and thy praise will live.
Still must thou shine, and with unequalled rays
The undying Mansfield of departed days!
Guide of the laws, an empire's boon and boast,
Though fortune and her dangerous dream were lost.
'Tis thine to honour, and thy praise will live.
Still must thou shine, and with unequalled rays
The undying Mansfield of departed days!
Guide of the laws, an empire's boon and boast,
Though fortune and her dangerous dream were lost.
| My Mind and its Thoughts, in Sketches, Fragments, and Essays | |