 | The poetical works of Samuel Woodworth |  |
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TYPOGRAPHICAL ODES.
HAIL TO THE ART.
Hail to the art! whose effulgence has brightened
The darkness that shrouded, for ages, the world;
Long shall her sons, by its lustre enlightened,
Wave the bright banner which Freedom unfurled.
Dark was the human mind,
And hoodwinked reason blind,
While Tyranny gave to his war-steeds the rein;
Then Faust arose to bless,
And gave to man the press,
Free as the billows of Neptune's domain.
The darkness that shrouded, for ages, the world;
Long shall her sons, by its lustre enlightened,
Wave the bright banner which Freedom unfurled.
Dark was the human mind,
And hoodwinked reason blind,
While Tyranny gave to his war-steeds the rein;
Then Faust arose to bless,
And gave to man the press,
Free as the billows of Neptune's domain.
Then Liberty roused from the slumber of ages,
And taught a new nation to rise in the West;
While History, smiling, unfolded her pages,
And showed the bright name of Columbia impressed.
Long fought her patriot band,
Blood flowed around the land,
Till liberty triumphed over tyranny's powers;
The light which printing shed,
Like Sol's effulgence spread,
And glory, with bright Independence, was ours.
And taught a new nation to rise in the West;
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And showed the bright name of Columbia impressed.
Long fought her patriot band,
Blood flowed around the land,
Till liberty triumphed over tyranny's powers;
The light which printing shed,
Like Sol's effulgence spread,
And glory, with bright Independence, was ours.
Beaming with splendor, from Liberty's altar,
Ascended the flame which our art had kept bright,
When demons united again to assault her,
Demolish her shrine, and extinguish its light.
Hark! trumpets sound alarms;
Drums, bugles, call to arms—
Arouse, freemen, rouse! to the field like your sires!
Soon shall the foeman yield,
Or fly the embattled field,
For Liberty triumphs while Printing inspires.
Ascended the flame which our art had kept bright,
When demons united again to assault her,
Demolish her shrine, and extinguish its light.
Hark! trumpets sound alarms;
Drums, bugles, call to arms—
Arouse, freemen, rouse! to the field like your sires!
Soon shall the foeman yield,
Or fly the embattled field,
For Liberty triumphs while Printing inspires.
Twice have our arms Independence protected,
And twice haughty Britain has yielded the fight;
Long shall our valor and rights be respected,
Long shall the blaze of our glory be bright.
Then hail the heaven-born art,
Which first improved the heart,
And ransomed the mind from the thraldom of sense!
Long shall Columbia bless
The free unshackled Press,
Liberty's Ægis, and Virtue's defence.
And twice haughty Britain has yielded the fight;
Long shall our valor and rights be respected,
Long shall the blaze of our glory be bright.
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Which first improved the heart,
And ransomed the mind from the thraldom of sense!
Long shall Columbia bless
The free unshackled Press,
Liberty's Ægis, and Virtue's defence.
WHILE AROUND THE FESTIVE BOARD.
WRITTEN FOR THE CELEBRATION OF A SOCIETY OF PRINTERS.
While around the festive board
The son of Freedom throng,
And bid her praises rise
In patriotic song;
Ye brethren of our heaven-born art
Unite to hail the day;
Let joy expand each patriot heart,
Each tongue assist the lay.
Arise, 't is Freedom's natal morn,
Ye sons of Faust, arise!
For ever swear to guard
The dearly-purchased prize.
The son of Freedom throng,
And bid her praises rise
In patriotic song;
Ye brethren of our heaven-born art
Unite to hail the day;
Let joy expand each patriot heart,
Each tongue assist the lay.
Arise, 't is Freedom's natal morn,
Ye sons of Faust, arise!
For ever swear to guard
The dearly-purchased prize.
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Mankind in darkness groped,
Their blind and erring way,
Deep veiled in Gothic shades,
With scarce a glimpse of day,
Till Faust arose and bid our art
Illume their darkened mind;
Then independence fired the heart
Which knowledge had refined.
Arise, 't is Freedom's natal morn,
Ye sons of Faust, arise!
For ever swear to guard
The dearly-purchased prize.
Their blind and erring way,
Deep veiled in Gothic shades,
With scarce a glimpse of day,
Till Faust arose and bid our art
Illume their darkened mind;
Then independence fired the heart
Which knowledge had refined.
Arise, 't is Freedom's natal morn,
Ye sons of Faust, arise!
For ever swear to guard
The dearly-purchased prize.
But long they sought in vain
To win the heavenly prize;
Oppression's lengthened reign
Their ardent wish denies,
Till o'er our hard-earned western soil
He dared his sceptre wield;
'T was then our sires, with blood and toil
Gained freedom and the field.
Arise, 't is Freedom's natal morn,
Ye sons of Faust, arise!
For ever swear to guard
The dearly-purchased prize.
To win the heavenly prize;
Oppression's lengthened reign
Their ardent wish denies,
Till o'er our hard-earned western soil
He dared his sceptre wield;
'T was then our sires, with blood and toil
Gained freedom and the field.
Arise, 't is Freedom's natal morn,
Ye sons of Faust, arise!
For ever swear to guard
The dearly-purchased prize.
Then smiling peace was ours,
And every earthly bliss,
Till Europe's treacherous powers
Betrayed us with a kiss.
But, like our fathers, now we'll rise,
Our birthrights to maintain—
Swear by the God of earth and skies
No tyrant here shall reign.
Arise, 't is Freedom's natal morn,
Ye sons of Faust, arise!
For ever swear to guard
The dearly-purchased prize.
And every earthly bliss,
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Betrayed us with a kiss.
But, like our fathers, now we'll rise,
Our birthrights to maintain—
Swear by the God of earth and skies
No tyrant here shall reign.
Arise, 't is Freedom's natal morn,
Ye sons of Faust, arise!
For ever swear to guard
The dearly-purchased prize.
Then let the foe advance,
The press shall still inspire,
To wield the missive lance,
Or guide the vengeful fire;
And here we swear, when Freedom calls
We'll not refuse to die;
The foe shall see beneath our balls
His columns fall in pi.
Arise, 't is Freedom's natal morn,
Ye sons of Faust, arise!
For ever swear to guard
The dearly-purchased prize.
The press shall still inspire,
To wield the missive lance,
Or guide the vengeful fire;
And here we swear, when Freedom calls
We'll not refuse to die;
The foe shall see beneath our balls
His columns fall in pi.
Arise, 't is Freedom's natal morn,
Ye sons of Faust, arise!
For ever swear to guard
The dearly-purchased prize.
Long ere a foreign flag
O'ertops Columbia's stripes,
We'll forge our sticks to arms,
To balls convert our types.
We'll never flinch, but give them chase,
Display our mystic stars;
Our eagle still shall hold his place,
And hurl the shafts of Mars.
Arise, 't is Freedom's natal morn,
Ye sons of Faust, arise!
For ever swear to guard
The dearly-purchased prize.
O'ertops Columbia's stripes,
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To balls convert our types.
We'll never flinch, but give them chase,
Display our mystic stars;
Our eagle still shall hold his place,
And hurl the shafts of Mars.
Arise, 't is Freedom's natal morn,
Ye sons of Faust, arise!
For ever swear to guard
The dearly-purchased prize.
Who threats with foreign rule
Our shooting-sticks defy;
We'll have a brush with all,
Before we take the lie.
We'll hush the English lion's roar,
French cannon we'll compose,
The form of tyranny beat o'er,
And hot-press all our foes.
Arise, 't is Freedom's natal morn,
Ye sons of Faust, arise!
For ever swear to guard
The dearly-purchased prize.
Our shooting-sticks defy;
We'll have a brush with all,
Before we take the lie.
We'll hush the English lion's roar,
French cannon we'll compose,
The form of tyranny beat o'er,
And hot-press all our foes.
Arise, 't is Freedom's natal morn,
Ye sons of Faust, arise!
For ever swear to guard
The dearly-purchased prize.
Long may we keep the morn,
Which gave our nation birth,
And when, at length, our works
Are finished here on earth—
May we our Heavenly Author meet,
(Our earthly forms forsook,)
And each become a perfect sheet
In his eternal book.
Till then, on Freedom's natal morn,
Let joyful pæans rise:
To-day for us was born
The goddess of the skies.
Which gave our nation birth,
And when, at length, our works
Are finished here on earth—
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(Our earthly forms forsook,)
And each become a perfect sheet
In his eternal book.
Till then, on Freedom's natal morn,
Let joyful pæans rise:
To-day for us was born
The goddess of the skies.
PRINTERS' ODE.
From the crystalline courts of the temple of light,
The dove-eye of Mercy to earth was directed,
Where mortals were grov'ling, deep shrouded in night;
For passion was worshipped and wisdom rejected:
Immersed in each ill
Of corrupted free-will,
Yet Mercy was patient, and Patience slept still:
For infinite Love had his banner unfurled,
And the precepts of wisdom were preached to the world.
The dove-eye of Mercy to earth was directed,
Where mortals were grov'ling, deep shrouded in night;
For passion was worshipped and wisdom rejected:
Immersed in each ill
Of corrupted free-will,
Yet Mercy was patient, and Patience slept still:
For infinite Love had his banner unfurled,
And the precepts of wisdom were preached to the world.
But haughty Ambition extended his reign,
And wielded the sceptre of magic delusion,
Held Reason enshackled in Tyranny's chain,
And governed by knowledge and learning's exclusion.
With mitre and hood,
Superstition and blood,
Corruption and vice deluged earth like a flood;
The blood-crimsoned banner of war was unfurled,
And knowledge and science were swept from the world.
And wielded the sceptre of magic delusion,
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And governed by knowledge and learning's exclusion.
With mitre and hood,
Superstition and blood,
Corruption and vice deluged earth like a flood;
The blood-crimsoned banner of war was unfurled,
And knowledge and science were swept from the world.
Deep locked in the shrine of antiquity's lore,
The Scriptures of light were withheld unexpounded,
A counterfeit Peter still guarded the door,
And the seekers of truth were by error confounded.
Omnipotence saw—
Bade Delusion withdraw,
And ordained that our art should promulgate his law.
Then Genius his fetters at Tyranny hurled,
And printing appeared to enlighten the world.
The Scriptures of light were withheld unexpounded,
A counterfeit Peter still guarded the door,
And the seekers of truth were by error confounded.
Omnipotence saw—
Bade Delusion withdraw,
And ordained that our art should promulgate his law.
Then Genius his fetters at Tyranny hurled,
And printing appeared to enlighten the world.
The blush of Aurora now lighted the east,
And banished the darkness of mystical terror:
Man sprang from the shrine of the mystical beast,
While prejudice owned and relinquished his error,
The truth was received,
Admired and believed,
And ours is the art which the blessing achieved:
For now was the banner of Wisdom unfurled,
And printing arose, like a sun, to the world.
And banished the darkness of mystical terror:
Man sprang from the shrine of the mystical beast,
While prejudice owned and relinquished his error,
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Admired and believed,
And ours is the art which the blessing achieved:
For now was the banner of Wisdom unfurled,
And printing arose, like a sun, to the world.
The sage of Genoa, whose emulous soul,
By a flash from our art, glowed with new inspiration;
In brilliant perspective saw glory's bright goal,
And enrolled a new world on the page of creation.
With high-swelling breast,
Still onward he pressed,
Till Eden's bright regions appeared in the West;
Each clime saw the canvass of Europe unfurled,
While printing taught Commerce to polish the world.
By a flash from our art, glowed with new inspiration;
In brilliant perspective saw glory's bright goal,
And enrolled a new world on the page of creation.
With high-swelling breast,
Still onward he pressed,
Till Eden's bright regions appeared in the West;
Each clime saw the canvass of Europe unfurled,
While printing taught Commerce to polish the world.
But the sons of the West to more glory were born,
And to us shall proud Europe the laurel surrender;
For though hers was the blushing effulgence of morn,
Yet ours is the noon of meridian splendor;
For Heaven decreed
That Columbia be freed,
And printing and valor accomplished the deed.
The banner of war was by Justice unfurled,
And freedom by printing proclaimed to the world.
And to us shall proud Europe the laurel surrender;
For though hers was the blushing effulgence of morn,
Yet ours is the noon of meridian splendor;
For Heaven decreed
That Columbia be freed,
And printing and valor accomplished the deed.
The banner of war was by Justice unfurled,
And freedom by printing proclaimed to the world.
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Our standard the eagle of liberty bears,
His eyes, like the stars that surround him, resplendent,
While the olive asks peace, every arrow declares,
Columbia for ever shall be independent;
For freedom is ours,
Nor shall Europe's mad powers
A feather e'er filch from our bird as he towers;
And while a free PRESS thus enlightens the world,
The banner of Liberty ne'er shall be furled.
His eyes, like the stars that surround him, resplendent,
While the olive asks peace, every arrow declares,
Columbia for ever shall be independent;
For freedom is ours,
Nor shall Europe's mad powers
A feather e'er filch from our bird as he towers;
And while a free PRESS thus enlightens the world,
The banner of Liberty ne'er shall be furled.
PRINTING AND INDEPENDENCE.
When, wrapped in folds of papal gloom,
Dark Superstition awed the world,
Consigned fair Knowledge to the tomb,
And Error's sable flag unfurled;
Earth heard the mandate from the skies—
“Let there be light—great ART, arise!”
Dark Superstition awed the world,
Consigned fair Knowledge to the tomb,
And Error's sable flag unfurled;
Earth heard the mandate from the skies—
“Let there be light—great ART, arise!”
Young Science wiped her tears and smiled,
And infant Genius plumed his wing;
The arts assemble round the child,
And all this glowing chorus sing—
Rise, sun of science! quick, arise!
And lend thy light to darkened eyes.
And infant Genius plumed his wing;
The arts assemble round the child,
And all this glowing chorus sing—
Rise, sun of science! quick, arise!
And lend thy light to darkened eyes.
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Our art arose, and man had light,
The clouds of superstition fled,
The fiend of ignorance took his flight,
And Error hid his hateful head;
Whilst swelled this chorus to the skies—
“Our art shall live, and Freedom rise.”
The clouds of superstition fled,
The fiend of ignorance took his flight,
And Error hid his hateful head;
Whilst swelled this chorus to the skies—
“Our art shall live, and Freedom rise.”
The goddess, who for ages past
Had wept beneath despotic night,
Her cankering fetters burst at last,
And claimed the charter of her right,
While men and seraphs joined this strain—
“Printing shall live, and Freedom reign.”
Had wept beneath despotic night,
Her cankering fetters burst at last,
And claimed the charter of her right,
While men and seraphs joined this strain—
“Printing shall live, and Freedom reign.”
Hail, Freedom! hail, celestial guest!
Oh, never from thy sons depart;
Thine be the empire of the West,
Thy temple every freeman's heart;
The art of printing gave thee birth,
And brightens still thy reign on earth.
Oh, never from thy sons depart;
Thine be the empire of the West,
Thy temple every freeman's heart;
The art of printing gave thee birth,
And brightens still thy reign on earth.
Arise, ye favored sons of light,
Professors of our heaven-born ART—
And in the chorus all unite,
While joy expands the throbbing heart;
“The art of printing shall endure,
“And Independence be secure.”
Professors of our heaven-born ART—
And in the chorus all unite,
While joy expands the throbbing heart;
“The art of printing shall endure,
“And Independence be secure.”
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AWAKE THE LOUD TRUMPET.
Awake the loud trumpet, 'tis Freedom invites,
Let heroes respond to the strain;
The olive of peace with the laurel unites,
And music swells sweet o'er the plain.
Thy birth, Independence, by freemen be kept,
Till Tyranny's banner be furled,
Till despots have bled, where their victims have wept,
And Freedom has spread o'er the world.
Let heroes respond to the strain;
The olive of peace with the laurel unites,
And music swells sweet o'er the plain.
Thy birth, Independence, by freemen be kept,
Till Tyranny's banner be furled,
Till despots have bled, where their victims have wept,
And Freedom has spread o'er the world.
When dark Superstition had fettered the mind,
And Reason in bondage was bound,
The goddess descended to ransom mankind,
And Genius arose from the ground.
The Press she established, a pillar of fire,
(While Night's sable curtain was furled),
Its splendor bade mystic Delusion retire,
And Printing gave light to the world.
And Reason in bondage was bound,
The goddess descended to ransom mankind,
And Genius arose from the ground.
The Press she established, a pillar of fire,
(While Night's sable curtain was furled),
Its splendor bade mystic Delusion retire,
And Printing gave light to the world.
The daring Columbus his canvass unfurled,
A nation arose in the West,
The storehouse of Europe, a mart for the world,
A home for the poor and oppressed.
Here Freedom's bright temple effulgent shall shine,
Her flag o'er its turrets unfurled,
Our arms have twice saved it, 't will never decline
While Printing gives light to the world.
A nation arose in the West,
The storehouse of Europe, a mart for the world,
A home for the poor and oppressed.
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Her flag o'er its turrets unfurled,
Our arms have twice saved it, 't will never decline
While Printing gives light to the world.
PRINTERS' JUBILEE
Hark! 'twas the trumpet of Freedom that sounded,
Millions of voices respond to the strain,
Hailing the day when an empire was founded,
Firm as our mountains, and free as the main!
Brightly the star of its glory is beaming—
Loudly the pæans of gladness arise!
Gayly our star-spangled banners are streaming;
Proudly our cannon are shaking the skies.
'T is Freedom's jubilee,
Then join ye brave and free,
Hail its return, independent and blest!
Wake music's sweetest voice,
Long may we thus rejoice!
Hail to Columbia, the queen of the West!
Millions of voices respond to the strain,
Hailing the day when an empire was founded,
Firm as our mountains, and free as the main!
Brightly the star of its glory is beaming—
Loudly the pæans of gladness arise!
Gayly our star-spangled banners are streaming;
Proudly our cannon are shaking the skies.
'T is Freedom's jubilee,
Then join ye brave and free,
Hail its return, independent and blest!
Wake music's sweetest voice,
Long may we thus rejoice!
Hail to Columbia, the queen of the West!
Dark was the gloom which her temple surrounded,
Sad were the sighs that exhausted her breath,
When, from its deep-vaulted roof, first resounded,
The soul-stirring words, “Independence or death!”
Franklin, the pride of our art and the nation,
Fixed on the charter of glory his seal,
Freemen confirmed it, with loud acclamation,
Heaven has sanctioned the solemn appeal.
Sons of the brightest art
Heaven can to man impart,
Join in the chorus—our country is blest—
This is her Jubilee,
Long shall her sons be free!
Hail to Columbia, the queen of the West!
Sad were the sighs that exhausted her breath,
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The soul-stirring words, “Independence or death!”
Franklin, the pride of our art and the nation,
Fixed on the charter of glory his seal,
Freemen confirmed it, with loud acclamation,
Heaven has sanctioned the solemn appeal.
Sons of the brightest art
Heaven can to man impart,
Join in the chorus—our country is blest—
This is her Jubilee,
Long shall her sons be free!
Hail to Columbia, the queen of the West!
Long was the struggle for freedom and glory;
Fierce was the conflict our fathers sustained;
Bright are their actions emblazoned in story:
Long may we guard what their valor obtained.
Hail to the art which such zeal could awaken!
Long may it flourish, their sons to inspire;
Freedom for ever the world had forsaken,
Had not the press been “a pillar of fire.”
Sons of the brightest art
Heaven can to man impart,
Join in the chorus—our country is blest—
This is her jubilee,
Long may her sons be free;
Hail to Columbia, the queen of the West!
Fierce was the conflict our fathers sustained;
Bright are their actions emblazoned in story:
Long may we guard what their valor obtained.
Hail to the art which such zeal could awaken!
Long may it flourish, their sons to inspire;
Freedom for ever the world had forsaken,
Had not the press been “a pillar of fire.”
Sons of the brightest art
Heaven can to man impart,
Join in the chorus—our country is blest—
This is her jubilee,
Long may her sons be free;
Hail to Columbia, the queen of the West!
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SONS OF FAUST.
Sons of Faust, to whom belong
Hearts and arms for freedom strong,
Festive rites, and patriot song,
Join in revelry!
Raise the tributary lay,
'T is Columbia's natal day,
Let each heart be light and gay,
Heirs of liberty!
Hearts and arms for freedom strong,
Festive rites, and patriot song,
Join in revelry!
Raise the tributary lay,
'T is Columbia's natal day,
Let each heart be light and gay,
Heirs of liberty!
Banish hence each petty feud.
Let no selfish care intrude,
'T is the hour for gratitude,
Social mirth and glee!
While the sparkling rubies swim,
Round each mantling goblet's brim,
Quaff them ere their light be dim,
Drink to liberty!
Let no selfish care intrude,
'T is the hour for gratitude,
Social mirth and glee!
While the sparkling rubies swim,
Round each mantling goblet's brim,
Quaff them ere their light be dim,
Drink to liberty!
Think what cause for joy is our,
In this land of fruits and flowers,
Splendid towns, and shady bowers,
Blessed with liberty!
Freed from sceptre, crown, and throne,
Independence is our own,
Never, but to Heaven alone,
Will we bend the knee!
In this land of fruits and flowers,
Splendid towns, and shady bowers,
Blessed with liberty!
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Independence is our own,
Never, but to Heaven alone,
Will we bend the knee!
Peace and plenty, through the land,
Scatter joys on every hand,
Bidding grateful hearts expand,
On our jubilee!
Hark the cannon's martial roar,
Loud proclaims from shore to shore,
That Columbia's sons adore
Heaven-born liberty!
Scatter joys on every hand,
Bidding grateful hearts expand,
On our jubilee!
Hark the cannon's martial roar,
Loud proclaims from shore to shore,
That Columbia's sons adore
Heaven-born liberty!
We who boast the matchless art
Which can light and truth impart,
Let us all, with hand and heart,
Keep the jubilee!
'T is our ART, and that alone,
Makes the worth of freedom known,
While admiring millions own,
That has made them free!
Which can light and truth impart,
Let us all, with hand and heart,
Keep the jubilee!
'T is our ART, and that alone,
Makes the worth of freedom known,
While admiring millions own,
That has made them free!
What inspired our sires to brave
Ocean's rough, tempestuous wave,
Seeking freedom, or a grave,
Death, or liberty?
'T was the PRESS, a beacon-light,
Beaming on their mental sight,
Led them through that gloomy night,
O'er the stormy sea!
Ocean's rough, tempestuous wave,
Seeking freedom, or a grave,
Death, or liberty?
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Beaming on their mental sight,
Led them through that gloomy night,
O'er the stormy sea!
This sustained them in the field,
This compelled the foe to yield,
This is freedom's sword and shield,
This proclaims us free!
Let us, then, our joy express,
For the blessings we possess,
While a free unshackled PRESS
Guards our liberty!
This compelled the foe to yield,
This is freedom's sword and shield,
This proclaims us free!
Let us, then, our joy express,
For the blessings we possess,
While a free unshackled PRESS
Guards our liberty!
ART OF PRINTING.
When o'er proud Tiber's flood
Fair Science reared her dome,
And Greece had lent her arts
To gild imperial Rome;
Ambitious Genius aimed her flight
To seek unknown renown,
But, veiled in sable shades of night,
She sunk bewildered down;
For fate to them denied the art
Which gives to knowledge birth,
Refines the human heart,
And scatters bliss on earth.
Fair Science reared her dome,
And Greece had lent her arts
To gild imperial Rome;
Ambitious Genius aimed her flight
To seek unknown renown,
But, veiled in sable shades of night,
She sunk bewildered down;
For fate to them denied the art
Which gives to knowledge birth,
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And scatters bliss on earth.
No soft refinements graced
Or harmonized the mind,
For maddening war's career
Left calmer joys behind;
The social ties which life endear
Their thoughts could ne'er engage;
The sympathetic smile and tear
Were lost in battle's rage:
For fate to them denied the art
Which gives to knowledge birth,
Refines the human heart,
And scatters bliss on earth.
Or harmonized the mind,
For maddening war's career
Left calmer joys behind;
The social ties which life endear
Their thoughts could ne'er engage;
The sympathetic smile and tear
Were lost in battle's rage:
For fate to them denied the art
Which gives to knowledge birth,
Refines the human heart,
And scatters bliss on earth.
Time told a thousand years
On his eventful page,
When Faust, at length, appears
To bless the happy age;
His plastic hand lends genius wings,
Bids wisdom proudly soar,
And infant learning joyful springs
With powers unknown before.
His was the heaven-descended art
To give fair knowledge birth,
To mend the human heart,
And civilize the earth.
On his eventful page,
When Faust, at length, appears
To bless the happy age;
His plastic hand lends genius wings,
Bids wisdom proudly soar,
And infant learning joyful springs
With powers unknown before.
His was the heaven-descended art
To give fair knowledge birth,
To mend the human heart,
And civilize the earth.
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The sun of science rose,
And chased the clouds of night;
While wondering realms surveyed,
Astonished at the sight—
The social arts, in wisdom's train,
With love and peace advance,
Teach man to feel his fellow's pain,
A brother's joy enhance.
Ours is the heaven-descended art
To give fair knowledge birth,
To mend the human heart,
And civilize the earth.
And chased the clouds of night;
While wondering realms surveyed,
Astonished at the sight—
The social arts, in wisdom's train,
With love and peace advance,
Teach man to feel his fellow's pain,
A brother's joy enhance.
Ours is the heaven-descended art
To give fair knowledge birth,
To mend the human heart,
And civilize the earth.
Hail, art of arts! all hail!
Thy praises mock the lyre;
To reach the boundless theme,
Its tones in vain aspire;
But grateful hearts, who feel the bliss
Thy magic power bestows,
Respond to every strain like this,
How dull soe'er it flows:
Ours is the heaven-descended art,
To give fair knowledge birth,
To mend the human heart,
And civilize the earth.
Thy praises mock the lyre;
To reach the boundless theme,
Its tones in vain aspire;
But grateful hearts, who feel the bliss
Thy magic power bestows,
Respond to every strain like this,
How dull soe'er it flows:
Ours is the heaven-descended art,
To give fair knowledge birth,
To mend the human heart,
And civilize the earth.
| The poetical works of Samuel Woodworth | |