 | My Mind and its Thoughts, in Sketches, Fragments, and Essays |  |
TRIBUTARY LINES
TO GEN. HENRY LEE.
HERO AND ORATOR, IN THE ANNALS OF HIS COUNTRY; VICTIM OF PERSECUTION THROUGH THE VIOLENCE OF HER PARTY POLITICKS.
Yes! thou wert born beneath the hero's star,
Triumphant leader in a patriot war;
Like Ammon's son, ere manhood's riper grace,
Had nerved the limbs, and stampt the blooming face,
Supreme in arms, a veteran foe thy claim,
Thy daring valour won the prize of fame.
Triumphant leader in a patriot war;
Like Ammon's son, ere manhood's riper grace,
Had nerved the limbs, and stampt the blooming face,
Supreme in arms, a veteran foe thy claim,
Thy daring valour won the prize of fame.
Or at thy country's call, her powers to join;
Where listening senates felt thy voice divine,
As round her GREAT DELIVERER'S trophied bier,
Awakened memory gave the hallowed tear—
Warm from the heart, and glistening with its flame,
Endeared by thee, its best libation came.
Where listening senates felt thy voice divine,
As round her GREAT DELIVERER'S trophied bier,
Awakened memory gave the hallowed tear—
Warm from the heart, and glistening with its flame,
Endeared by thee, its best libation came.
Brave was that arm which taught a Briton fear,
And sweet the voice that charmed a nation's ear.
But not the forum, nor the battle, claim
Alone thy homage, and divide thy fame,
For all the graceful charities which blend,
Round social life;—the husband, father, friend—
Are thine—and thine a generous breast that glows
With every worth, the noblest nature knows.
And sweet the voice that charmed a nation's ear.
But not the forum, nor the battle, claim
Alone thy homage, and divide thy fame,
For all the graceful charities which blend,
Round social life;—the husband, father, friend—
Are thine—and thine a generous breast that glows
With every worth, the noblest nature knows.
In council honoured, as in arms renown'd,
By fortune followed, and by victory crown'd;
Fame is thy own—nor can a muse like mine,
One flower of fragrance with thy chaplet twine.
Blooming and bright, the eternal green shall cheer
The closing winter of each future year,
With thriftiest germ shall blosom unsubdued
By faction's blight, or chill ingratitude!
Mid the full wreath, no bosom'd worm shall feed—
Nor envy shame it with one mingling weed,
This to thy deeds doth PUBLIC VIRTUE give,
That with thy country shall thy glory live!
Bright as her rivers, as her hills sublime,
Shall pierce her clouds, and glitter through her clime;
Like a rich gem adorn the historic page,
Wear through all time, and shine on every age.
By fortune followed, and by victory crown'd;
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One flower of fragrance with thy chaplet twine.
Blooming and bright, the eternal green shall cheer
The closing winter of each future year,
With thriftiest germ shall blosom unsubdued
By faction's blight, or chill ingratitude!
Mid the full wreath, no bosom'd worm shall feed—
Nor envy shame it with one mingling weed,
This to thy deeds doth PUBLIC VIRTUE give,
That with thy country shall thy glory live!
Bright as her rivers, as her hills sublime,
Shall pierce her clouds, and glitter through her clime;
Like a rich gem adorn the historic page,
Wear through all time, and shine on every age.
| My Mind and its Thoughts, in Sketches, Fragments, and Essays | |