 | [Poem by Fenollosa in] Baccalaureate Sermon, and Oration and Poem. Class of 1874 |  |
III.
Let voices be subdued within these walls
Before an audience of unseen dead,
Who even now perchance adown the halls
Pass and repass with ever-noiseless tread,
And in our faces look, and list to what is said.
Before an audience of unseen dead,
Who even now perchance adown the halls
Pass and repass with ever-noiseless tread,
And in our faces look, and list to what is said.
When life was brightest, and their years in bloom,
They rushed a-field to meet their country's foes;
With their own hearts shut out the impending doom,
And with their blood, a price no human knows,
Bought for a down-trod race immunity from woes.
They rushed a-field to meet their country's foes;
With their own hearts shut out the impending doom,
And with their blood, a price no human knows,
Bought for a down-trod race immunity from woes.
The nation, on whose fate the whole world hung,
Faced her inevitable problem then,—
The dreaded problem shunned while she was young;
And in that hour she found her sons were men.
They died, but in their death we all breathe free again.
Faced her inevitable problem then,—
The dreaded problem shunned while she was young;
And in that hour she found her sons were men.
They died, but in their death we all breathe free again.
But by their graves in some neglected spot
Their great and noble spirits could not stay.
They came to see if they had been forgot;
And, lo! they find yon massive Hall's array,
And would inspire the class that graduates to-day.
Their great and noble spirits could not stay.
They came to see if they had been forgot;
And, lo! they find yon massive Hall's array,
And would inspire the class that graduates to-day.
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There in the shadow of the solemn tower
Which stands at night with all the stars alone,
'Neath arms of oak, the symbol of that power
Which great men wield who break a tyrant's throne,
The visitor with awe shall scan each marble stone.
Which stands at night with all the stars alone,
'Neath arms of oak, the symbol of that power
Which great men wield who break a tyrant's throne,
The visitor with awe shall scan each marble stone.
No more the martial trump to battle calls;
And with the fiery test we are not tried,
Like those who live in yon memorials;
And yet methinks there is a field as wide,
Wherein we must defend the prize for which they died.
And with the fiery test we are not tried,
Like those who live in yon memorials;
And yet methinks there is a field as wide,
Wherein we must defend the prize for which they died.
The gathering storm a century ago
Upon the trembling air sent signs before.
Men braced themselves for the last overthrow;
And all advantages we have in store
We owe alone to those stout hearts of Seventy-four.
Upon the trembling air sent signs before.
Men braced themselves for the last overthrow;
And all advantages we have in store
We owe alone to those stout hearts of Seventy-four.
Yet do not think their victory is won
While still the hosts of tyranny and wrong
At work beneath the dome in Washington
Would drain the country's blood, which once so strong
Flowed busy through her veins, and commerce whirled along.
While still the hosts of tyranny and wrong
At work beneath the dome in Washington
Would drain the country's blood, which once so strong
Flowed busy through her veins, and commerce whirled along.
As long as sits Corruption on high thrones,
And but in name the people's choice is free,
And Congressmen fill offices with drones
And vote themselves increased back-salary,
And men the State and Church united fain would see,
And but in name the people's choice is free,
And Congressmen fill offices with drones
And vote themselves increased back-salary,
And men the State and Church united fain would see,
So long the blood of slaughtered brethren cries,
So long the fathers of our land implore,
“Young men, with whom her destiny now lies,
Take up the arms which we have used before
And stern defend the heritage we hand you o'er.”
So long the fathers of our land implore,
“Young men, with whom her destiny now lies,
Take up the arms which we have used before
And stern defend the heritage we hand you o'er.”
But 'mid the inspirations of the Past
The freshest is of him but lately gone,
For years the Ship of State's most stanch mainmast,
Who fell asleep with his great victory won,
America's and Harvard's loved and honored son.
The freshest is of him but lately gone,
For years the Ship of State's most stanch mainmast,
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America's and Harvard's loved and honored son.
We saw the solemn train pass silently
Which bore him to his final resting-place.
And though, when we are called upon to die,
We may not be thus mourned by all our race,
Each leaves upon the world his everlasting trace.
Which bore him to his final resting-place.
And though, when we are called upon to die,
We may not be thus mourned by all our race,
Each leaves upon the world his everlasting trace.
A little pebble falling in the sea
Ruffles the ether to its outmost star.
And so our influence, whate'er it be,
Shall stretch into the misty Future far,
And that which men shall be result from what we are.
Ruffles the ether to its outmost star.
And so our influence, whate'er it be,
Shall stretch into the misty Future far,
And that which men shall be result from what we are.
What eminence our country shall attain
In culture or in useful arts or power
Is ours to say; for we are like the grain
Of mustard-seed, or leaven within the flour.—
And the great end shall come in some unreckoned hour.
In culture or in useful arts or power
Is ours to say; for we are like the grain
Of mustard-seed, or leaven within the flour.—
And the great end shall come in some unreckoned hour.
We have a standard of high aim to set,
A native literature to put in form,
A school of art it may be to create,
At least make culture and true friendship warm
Our frigid worldly rules into some higher norm.
A native literature to put in form,
A school of art it may be to create,
At least make culture and true friendship warm
Our frigid worldly rules into some higher norm.
Make men feel greater earnestness in life,
A childlike reverence for all they see.
Show the whole world with love and beauty rife.
Hope well of that which is through God to be,
And teach a steadfast individuality.
A childlike reverence for all they see.
Show the whole world with love and beauty rife.
Hope well of that which is through God to be,
And teach a steadfast individuality.
The sea is swayed by worship of the moon.
The mountains stand aghast before the storm,
Or gaze upon loved valleys nestled warm
Under their shoulders. Birds their sweetest tune
Pour forth in praise. So let us love and sing,—
The mountains stand aghast before the storm,
Or gaze upon loved valleys nestled warm
Under their shoulders. Birds their sweetest tune
Pour forth in praise. So let us love and sing,—
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For all things full of wondrous beauty are,—
And reverence the lustre of a star,
Be it in heaven or be it in some dear eye.
So may the love of every man and thing
Possess our souls, that we may not decry
The meanest of God's creatures. World, thou art
That mystery of which we are a part.
And each event the years bring as they fly
Is eloquent unto our listening heart.
And reverence the lustre of a star,
Be it in heaven or be it in some dear eye.
So may the love of every man and thing
Possess our souls, that we may not decry
The meanest of God's creatures. World, thou art
That mystery of which we are a part.
And each event the years bring as they fly
Is eloquent unto our listening heart.
E'en as this earth for countless years hath rolled
About the sun in orbit of her own,
With independent pride and all alone,
Save one sweet page that doth her sleep behold,
Yet bound by laws omnipotent of old
To every swinging star that studs yon zone,
The centre of an influence unknown,
A unit free, controlling and controlled,
So is the man of great and noble deeds
Bound by the gravitating force of Right,
Uninfluenced by those who feel his might,
Holding his own amid all thoughts and creeds,
Though reverent of all, a unit still
Of social force, an independent will.
About the sun in orbit of her own,
With independent pride and all alone,
Save one sweet page that doth her sleep behold,
Yet bound by laws omnipotent of old
To every swinging star that studs yon zone,
The centre of an influence unknown,
A unit free, controlling and controlled,
So is the man of great and noble deeds
Bound by the gravitating force of Right,
Uninfluenced by those who feel his might,
Holding his own amid all thoughts and creeds,
Though reverent of all, a unit still
Of social force, an independent will.
The years are stepping-stones by which we rise
To dreamed-of regions. Like a distant peak
Whose snowy top the mountaineer must seek
By passing o'er the ridge that 'neath it lies,
The misty Future looms before our eyes;
And longing for its beauty spurs our weak,
Slow steps with hope we hardly dare to speak,
And soon the goal is won to our surprise.
No progress on this earth was ever wrought,
No grand nobility of soul was seen,
Where no strong wish disturbed the course serene
Of men who were contented with their lot.
Hoping, we grasp the hand that God extends,
And in our own complete his perfect ends.
To dreamed-of regions. Like a distant peak
Whose snowy top the mountaineer must seek
By passing o'er the ridge that 'neath it lies,
The misty Future looms before our eyes;
And longing for its beauty spurs our weak,
Slow steps with hope we hardly dare to speak,
And soon the goal is won to our surprise.
No progress on this earth was ever wrought,
No grand nobility of soul was seen,
Where no strong wish disturbed the course serene
Of men who were contented with their lot.
Hoping, we grasp the hand that God extends,
And in our own complete his perfect ends.
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The dreamed-of Golden Age would come again,
Nor stifled Virtue longer darkly grope,
If we could teach our sordid countrymen
Their hearts unto this Trinity to ope,
Reverence, Individuality, and Hope.
Nor stifled Virtue longer darkly grope,
If we could teach our sordid countrymen
Their hearts unto this Trinity to ope,
Reverence, Individuality, and Hope.
| [Poem by Fenollosa in] Baccalaureate Sermon, and Oration and Poem. Class of 1874 | |