The poems and literary prose of Alexander Wilson ... for the first time fully collected and compared with the original and early editions ... edited ... by the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart ... with portrait, illustrations, &c |
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IN MEMORY OF CAPTAIN LEWIS. |
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 | The poems and literary prose of Alexander Wilson |  |
IN MEMORY OF CAPTAIN LEWIS.
Far hence be each accusing thought!
Let tears of silent sorrow flow;
Pale Pity consecrate the spot
Where poor, lost Lewis now lies low.
Let tears of silent sorrow flow;
Pale Pity consecrate the spot
Where poor, lost Lewis now lies low.
This lonely grave—this bed of clay,
Neglected—dug the pathway near;
Unfenced from midnight beasts of prey,
Excites Affliction's bitterest tear.
Neglected—dug the pathway near;
Unfenced from midnight beasts of prey,
Excites Affliction's bitterest tear.
The soldier brave, of dauntless heart,
The chief belov'd, the comrade dear;
Of honour'd worth the mortal part
Moulders in sacred silence here.
The chief belov'd, the comrade dear;
Of honour'd worth the mortal part
Moulders in sacred silence here.
His was the peril, glory, pride,
First of his country to explore
Whence vast Missouri's currents glide;
Where white man never trod before.
First of his country to explore
Whence vast Missouri's currents glide;
Where white man never trod before.
356
Her roaring cataracts he scal'd,
Her mountains of eternal snow;
There his brave band the rivers hail'd
That westward to the ocean flow.
Her mountains of eternal snow;
There his brave band the rivers hail'd
That westward to the ocean flow.
Subdu'd by boldness, and amazed
At daring deeds unknown before,
The hordes of Indian warriors gazed,
And lov'd them for the hearts they bore.
At daring deeds unknown before,
The hordes of Indian warriors gazed,
And lov'd them for the hearts they bore.
Far down Columbia's foamy steeps,
He led his brave, adventurous band;
Plough'd the Pacific's billowy deeps,
And stood triumphant on the strand.
He led his brave, adventurous band;
Plough'd the Pacific's billowy deeps,
And stood triumphant on the strand.
Twice fourteen months of peril past,
Again the Alpine snows they spurn;
Their country opes to view at last,
And millions welcome their return.
Again the Alpine snows they spurn;
Their country opes to view at last,
And millions welcome their return.
The learned on Europe's distant Lands,
With joy the great arrival hail;
And Fame on tip-toe ready stands,
To spread the wonders of their tale.
With joy the great arrival hail;
And Fame on tip-toe ready stands,
To spread the wonders of their tale.
O sad reverse! O mournful end
Of this high destiny so dear!
He, the lord-chieftian of their band,
Fell, friendless and unhonoured here!
Of this high destiny so dear!
He, the lord-chieftian of their band,
Fell, friendless and unhonoured here!
The anguish that his soul assailed,
The dark despair that round him flew,
No eye, save that of Heaven, beheld,
None but unfeeling strangers knew.
The dark despair that round him flew,
No eye, save that of Heaven, beheld,
None but unfeeling strangers knew.
Bereav'd of Hope's sweet angel form,
Griefs rose on griefs, and fear on fear;
Poor Reason perish'd in the storm,
And Desperation triumphed here!
Griefs rose on griefs, and fear on fear;
Poor Reason perish'd in the storm,
And Desperation triumphed here!
357
Fast pour'd the purple stream of life,
His burning lips one drop did crave;
Abandon'd, midst this bloody strife,
He sank, unfriended, to the grave.
His burning lips one drop did crave;
Abandon'd, midst this bloody strife,
He sank, unfriended, to the grave.
Unhappy youth! here rest thy head,
Beloved, lamented by the brave;
Though silent deserts round thee spread,
And wild beasts trample o'er thy grave.
Beloved, lamented by the brave;
Though silent deserts round thee spread,
And wild beasts trample o'er thy grave.
Here reap that peace life could not give;
But while thy own Missouri flows,
Thy name, dear Lewis, still shall live,
And ages yet lament thy woes.
But while thy own Missouri flows,
Thy name, dear Lewis, still shall live,
And ages yet lament thy woes.
Lone as these solitudes appear,
Wide as this wilderness is spread;
Affection's steps shall linger here,
To breath her sorrows o'er the dead.
Wide as this wilderness is spread;
Affection's steps shall linger here,
To breath her sorrows o'er the dead.
The Indian hunter, slow and sad,
Who wanders with his rifle near;
With solemn awe shall hither tread,
To mourn a brother-hunter here.
Who wanders with his rifle near;
With solemn awe shall hither tread,
To mourn a brother-hunter here.
The pilgrim-boatman on his way,
Shall start the humble grave to view;
“Here Lewis lies!” he'll mournful say,
While tears his manly cheeks bedew.
Shall start the humble grave to view;
“Here Lewis lies!” he'll mournful say,
While tears his manly cheeks bedew.
Far hence be each accusing thought!
With his my kindred tears shall flow;
Pale Pity consecrate the spot,
Where poor, lost Lewis now lies low!
With his my kindred tears shall flow;
Pale Pity consecrate the spot,
Where poor, lost Lewis now lies low!
| The poems and literary prose of Alexander Wilson | |