H E
.
.
B A RK ER
1 9 2 2 SO UT H H OB A R T BOULEV A RD
Lo s ANG ELESPC ALIBORNIA
mn
s a
ta
m
s ha
M
in the
Ma ma
mi
39
60 1
m
a
l i st
se
i
g
mm
‘
s
m
of
i
at a
fi ee
of
m
ma
Li
m mm
tfi er in the l i st .
.
ac
fl
af
In hi s
"
fir &
.
w
ai tin
g
BY
J OH
N G
.
W
H ITTIE R
.
h r i um t k p l n th S l mn b t wh nI pr c d d t th fir t r f
nd n d d l l th ppr i n th t
d n und r
th f urth ch pt r fth E l n t
w r
ppr d nd th y h d n c mf rt r ; nd nth
th
d b h l d th t r f uch
n n
d
f th
p w r I c ncl ud d th w nt th t n t ke p il nc ; f
pp m th r w
Tru th h u l d b p k n t ll b m b tmr e p ci lly tth
tim w h nt p k Truth
d ng u
T
e e sa
e o
e su
sx
eo
a
,
a
eo
s o
a
e o
e
e o
e e
re
ee
sr e ce, ’ sal
‘
a
cc es as es,
e ea s o
rs
es o e
e e
a a
s
as
o
es,
as
e
u
oo
o
co sx ere
esse
e eo
e
o
o e s e a
u
e
o ee e
o
e
a
e o
ess o s
a
are
,
e
a
xs
a
as
o
ose
a
o
e u
es
s v e se o
o e
o e
o
e o
e
a
s e
o s ea
e
ero s.”
P
U
P
HIL AD L P
H IA
P
E
B L ISH E D B Y
J OS E
H
H E AL Y
B OS T O N : WE E K S J O R DAN &Co
NE W YOR K ; JOHN s T AYL OR
,
.
.
1 8 38
.
.
.
e
o
e
e
or
13
E E according to A c t of C ongress in the y ear 1 838 b y
J OS E P
H H E AL Y
in the Offic e of the C l erk of the Dl strict C ourt of the E mern Distric t of
Pennsy lvani a
E NT R D
,
,
.
MERRIH EW
U P R IN T ER S
No 7 C art er s All ey
G NN,
’
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.
,
,
TO
NRY
H E
B
S TA
.
NTON
,
TH IS
V O L UM E
AS A
TH E
A UT H O R S
’
I N S CRIB E D
IS
T O KE N
PR
E
OF
S O NA L
F RI E N D S H I
AND OF H IS
RE S
P
E T
C
F OR T H E U
N R E S E RV E D
DE V O T I O N
P
0
E X AL
TED
TA L E N
TS
T O TH E
CAU
OF
H UM A
N IT Y
A ND F R E E DOM .
SE
P
,
C ON T E
NTS
.
P
age
7
t an a
12
Tou ssain t L ou v erture
22
The Y ankee Girl
24
To W i lliamLloy d Garrison
To the Memory of Ch arl es B Storrs lat e Presid en t of West ern Re
ser ve Coll e e
m
S ong of the Free
m
The H u n t e s of Men
fi
To Governor M Dufiie
m
m
“
L in es wri tten on read i ng R ight and W ong in Boston
w
To G B E q au thor of the W orc ester Democ ra t ic A d dr ess
u
u
To the M emory of T homas Sh ipl ey
a
The S lave Sh ips
m
S ta n as for the Ti mes
m
anl y remarks of Gov ernor
L n
es wri tt en on reading the spiri ted and m
t n
e of P ennsy lv ania in hi M essag e of 1 836 on the subj ec t of
Slav ery
57
H ymn wr itt en for the meeting of the An ti slav ery Soci ety a t C ha t
h eld on the 4th of the Seven th mon th
hamS treet C h apel N Y
S
s,
z
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,
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,
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,
M
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g
,
r
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’
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”
r
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,
s
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,
n
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z
l
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r,
s
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,
,
1 334,
Hy mn wri tt en for the cel ebrat ion of the T h i rd Anniversary of B ri t i sh
Em
ancipa t ion a t the B roadway Ta bernacl e N
First of
Au gu st ” 1 837
Cl erical O ppressors
L in es wri tten on the adopt ion of inck ney s R esol ut ions in the
House of R epresen ta t ives and the passag e of Cal h o u n s B ill of
A bomina t ions” to a second readi n in the Senat e of the Uni ted
S tates
L in es on the d ea th of S Ol iv er Torrey Secretary of the Boston
Y ou n
g M en s Ant i Slavery S oci ety
60
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64
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70
VI
C
O N T E NT S
.
“
m
s
L ines wri tt en on reading
a ou Pastoral L etter” of the Mas
sachusetts G en eral Assoc i a t i on 1 837
The M oral W arfare
M assachu setts
The Farew ell of a Virginia Slave mo th er t o her da ught ers sold int o
S ou th er n b ondag e
”
“
s
h
s
Addre s wri tten for t e opening of Penn y lvania Hall d edica ted
to Free Disc ussion Vi rtu e L i berty and Ind epend enc e on the
1 sth of the Fi fth mon th 1 838
the f
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73
78
79
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MISCE LL ANEO US
P
OE M
S
86
.
P al est ine
C hri st in the T emp est
The Femal e M a t yr
L—J ob x x x v i ii
P
Knowest th o u the Ordinanc es of H eav en C
H ymn ! fromthe Frenc h 6fLa mart in e )
Fromthe Frenc h of L ama rt i n e
The F amtl ist s H y mn
The C all of the C hri st ian
The Frost S pi i t
The W orsh ip of Na t ure
L in es wri tt eni n the C ommon plac e Book of a y ou ng lady
The W at c h er
The C ties of the P lain
,
98
,
r
1 00
,
1 04
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,
1 08
,
1 10
,
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1 12
,
MB
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1 19
r ,
12 1
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1 27
,
l
1 32
,
The Cl ll Cl fiX iOl l ,
'
1 34
‘
The C i ty
of R efu ge
Isab ella of Au stria
L in es wri tt en onvi si t ing a si ngu lar cav e inC h ester N
The Fra tricid e
Su icid e Pond
The Fo u nt ain
136
,
1 38
,
,
,
,
,
Pn
,
M i ssionary
S t an a s su gg est ed by the l ett er of a fri end
L ines on a P
o trai t
S t an a s
To the Memo y of J O R ock w ell
The
,
.
1 43
1 46
1 50
1 53
1 62
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H
1 58
e tu ck et,
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1 71
1 74
1 76
1 79
STAN ZAS
.
d espot ismw h ich our fa th ers co uld not b ear in th eir nat iv e cou ntry
is ex piring an
d the sword of Just ic e in her reformed h a n
ds has appli ed its
ex term
ina t i ng ed ge to slav ery Sh all the Uni t ed Stat es the free Unit ed
ot b ear the b ond s of a king cradl e the b ondag e
S t at es whic h cou ld n
w hic h a k ing is ab ol ishing z Sh all a R epub lic b e l ess free th an a M o
narchy l Sh all we in the vigor and bu oy anc y of our manh ood b e l ess
en erg et ic inrig h teo usn ess th an a kingdomin its age l ”— Dr
allms Ad
“ The
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d ress
.
ni us of America l— S p irit of our free insti tut ions — wh ere art th ou ?
How ar t th ou fall en O Lu c i fer i Sonof the morning— h ow art th o u fall en
fro mH ea v en ' H ell fromb en ea th is mov ed for th ee t o m
eet th ee a t thy
coming ! The kingsof the earth cry ou t to th ee Ah a ! Ah a —AR T T H OU
”—
B acon
n
s L IK E u x ro u s 2
Sp eech of Sam
u el J m
y
“ Ge
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'
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OUR fe llow
.
cou ntrym e n in chains
S lave s— ih a land of light and law
S lave s— cro u ching on th e very pl ains
'
W h er e rcll d th e storm of F ree dom s war
A groan from E u taw s haunte d W ood
A wail W h er e C amd e n s martyrs fe ll
B y eve ry shrin e of p atriot blood
F rom M o ul tri e s wall and J asp e r s w e ll
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By stori e d hill and hallow d grot
By mossy wood and marshy gl en
W h en
c e rang of old th e rifl
e shot
And h urrying shou t of M arion s m e n
,
,
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W
POEMS
’
H IT TIE R S
.
Th e groan of br e aki ng h e arts is th e re
Th e falling lash — th e fe tt e r s Clank !
Slaves—s L AVE s ar e br e athing in that air
W hich old De Kalb and S umte r drank !
’
,
W hat ho — ou r co u ntrym e n in chains !
The whip on W OM AN S shrinking fl e sh
Ou r soil y et r e dd e ning with th e stains
C au ght frOmh e r sco urging warm and fre sh !
W hat ! moth ers from th e ir childr e n ri ve n !
W hat ! G od s own image bou ght and sold !
AM E RICANS to mark e t dri ve n
And b arter d as th e brut e for gold !
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S p e ak ! shall th e ir agony of pray er
C om e thrilling to o u r h e arts in vain !
To u s W hos e fath ers scornd to hear
The pal try menace of a chain ;
To u s W hos e b oast is lo u d and long
Of holy L ib e rty and L ight
S ay shall th e s e writhing slave s of Wrong
P l e ad vainly for th e ir pl u nd er d R ight !
’
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W hat ! shall w e s end with lavish bre ath
O ur sympathi e s across th e wave
W h e r e M anhood on th e fi el d of d e ath
S trik e s for his free dom or a grave !
S ha ll pray e rs go up and hymns b e s ung
F or G ree c e th e M osl e m fe tter S p urning
And millions hail with p e n and to gue
!
Ou r light on all h e r al tars b u rning
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W
’
H r r r rR R s
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r oa
ms
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S hall B e lgi um feel and g allant F ranc e
By Vend ome s p il e and S choenb ru ns wall
And P oland gasping on h e r lanc e
Th e imp uls e of o u r ch e ering cal l !
And shall th e SL AVE b e n e ath o u r ey e
C lank o e r ou r fi e lds his hate fu l chain !
And toss his fetter d arms on high
And groan for Fr ee dom s gift, in vain !
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O h say shall P ru ssia s bann er b e
A r e fu ge for th e strick e n slave !
And shall th e R u ssian se rf go fr ee
’
By Baikal s lak e and Neva s wave !
And shall th e wintry b osomd D ane
R elax th e iron hand of prid e ,
And bid his bondm e n cast th e chain
F rom fetter d so u l and limb asid e !
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S hal l every flap of E ngland s flag
P roclaim that al l aro u nd ar e fr ee
”
“
F rom farth e st Ind to e ach bl ue crag
That b ee tl e s o er the W e stern S e a !
An
d shall W e sco f
f at E urope s kings
W h en F r ee dom s fir e is dim with u s
d o ur co untry s altar clings
And ro u n
’
Th e damning shad e ofS l av ery s c u rse !
’
,
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’
Go
u s ask of C onstantin e
To loos e his n p on P oland s throat ;
And b e g th e lord of M ahmo u d s lin e
To spar e th e struggling S uliote
l
- et
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10
POEMS
’
H ITT IE R S
.
Will not th e scorching ansvver com e
F rom turban d T urk and fi e ry R u ss :
G o loos e yo ur fetter d slave s at hom e
”
Th e n turn and ask th e lik e of u s !
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J u st
G od ! and shall w e calmly re st
Th e C hristian s scorn— the H e ath en s mirth
C onte nt to li ve th e linge ring j e st
And b y word of a mocking E arth !
S hall o u r own gl orl ou s land r e tain
That c urs e which E urop e scorns to b e ar !
S hall o ur own bre thr e n drag the chain
W hich not eve n R u ssia s m enials w e ar !
,
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Up , th e n , in Free dom s manly part ,
’
From gray b e ard e ld to fi e ry yo uth
And on th e nation s nak e d h e art
S catte r th e living coals of Truth !
Up— whil e y e sl u mb e r d ee p e r y e t
Th e shadow of ou r fame is growing !
Up — whil e y e pau s e o u r s u n may s e t
I n blood aro und o ur altars flowing !
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O h ! rou s e y e e re th e storm com e s forth
Th e gather d wrath of G od and man
L ik e that which w aste d E gy pt s e arth ,
W h e n hail and fir e ab o ve it ran
H e ar y e no warnings in th e air !
Fee l y e no earth quak e u nd ern e ath !
Up— u p — why will y e sl umb e r wh e r e
Th e sl eep er only wak e s in d e ath !
,
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W
’
H ITT IE R S
POEMS
11
.
Up now for F r ee dom — not instrife
L ik e that your ste rne r father s saw
Th e awful waste of h uman life
Th e glory and th e gu ilt of war :
B u t br e ak th e chain— th e yok e remoy e
And smite to e arth O ppr e ssion s rod
Wi th thos e mild arms of Tru th and L o ve
M ad e mighty thro u gh th e liv ing G od !
f
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D o w n l e t th e shrin e of M oloch sink ,
And l e ave no trac e s wh er e it stood ;
N or longer l e t its idol drink
His daily cup of h uman blood :
B u t re ar anoth e r altar th e re
To Tru th and L ove and M ercy give n
And F ree dom s gift and F ree dom s prayer
Shall call an answ e r dow n from H eave n !
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TOUS SAINT L OUVE RTURE
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T U
L O UVE RT URE the b lack ch i eft ain of Hay t i was a slav e on
the plan t at ion “d e L i b ert as ” b elong i ng t o M Bay ou W h en theri sing of the
n eg ro es took plac e in 1 79 1 To ussain t refused t o j oin th em u nt il he h ad
aid ed M Bay ou and his famil y t o escap e to Bal t i more The wh i t e man
h ad d i scovered in Toussaint man y nobl e qu ali ti es and h ad instru cted him
in some of the first branches ofedu cat ion and the preservat ion of his l ife
was owi ng t o the n egro s gra t i tu d e for th i s k indn ess
In1 797, Tou ssain t L ou v erture was appoin t ed by the Frenc h govern
ment , Gen eral inC h i ef of the armi es of S t Do mingo and as su ch signed
the C onv en t ion wi th Gen eral M ai t land for the evac u at ion of the i sland by
the B ri t i sh
Fromth i s p eriod u n t il 1 801 the i sland u nd er: the gov ern m
en t
of Tou ssain t was h app y tranqu il and prosperous The misera bl e att empt
of Napol eon to re est ab l ish slav ery in St Domingo al th ou g h i t fa i l ed of its
in tend ed obj ect proved fa t al t o the n egro c h i eft a i n Treach erou sl y sei z ed
by L e C l erc he was hurri ed on b oard a v essel by night and convey ed t o
Franc e w h ere he was confin ed in a co l d subterran ean d u ng eon a t B esan
s a
h
e d ied
T
h
e t rea t m
en t of Tou ssain t fi
nd
3
on w h ere in A pril 1 80
g
parall el onl y in the murd er of the Duke d E nghein It was theremark of
rst d is
Godwin in his L ec t ures th a t the W est India i sland s sinc e th eir fi
bus cou ld not b oast of a singl e name w h ic h d eserves
cov ery by C ol u m
compar ison wi th th a t of T OUSSAIN T L OU VER T U RE
’
O SS AINT
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TH E
moon was u p O ne gen eral smil e
W as r e sting on th e I ndian isl e
M ild p ur e e th er e al ; rock and wood
I n s e arching s unshin e wild and ru d e ,
R os e mell ow d thro u gh th e silver gl e am
S oft as th e landscap e of a dream
All motionl e ss and d e wy w e t
Tree , v ine and flow er in shadow m e t :
Th e myrtl e with its snowy bloom
C rossing th e nightshad e s sol e mn gloom
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12
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w nr r r rE R
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POEMS
s
l3
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Th e white crecopia s silver rind
R eli eve d by d ee p e r gree n b ehind ,
Th e orange with its fruit of gold
The lith e p au ll inia s ve rdant fold
Th e passion flow er with symb ol holy,
Twining its te ndrils long and lo wly ,
Th e rh ex ias dark a
nd cassia tall
And pro u dly rising over all
Th e kingly palm s imp erial ste m
Crow nd with its l e afy diad e m
S tar lik e , b en e ath whos e sombr e sh ad e ,
Th e fiery w ing d c uc ullo play d !
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Ye s— lo vely was thin e asp e ct th e n
F air island of th e W e stern S e a !
L avish of b e au ty eve n wh e n
Thy bru te s w e re happi e r than thy m en ,
F or they at l e ast w er e free!
R e gardl e ss of thy glorio u s clim e
Unmindfu l of thy soil of flow ers
Th e toiling ne gro sigh d that Tim e
No faster sp ed his h eu rs
F or by th e d e wy moonlight still ,
H e fed th e w e ary t urning mill
Or b e nt him in th e chill morass
To pl u ck th e long and tangl e d grass ,
And h e ar abo ve his scar worn back
Th e h e avy slave whip s fre que nt crack ;
W hil e in his h e art on e evil tho u ght
I n solitary madness wro u ght ,
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W
14
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H ITTIE R S
PO E M S
.
O n e bal e ful fir e s u rviving still
Th e que nchin g of th immor tal mind
O n e ste rn e r p assi on of his kind
Which eve n fe tters co uld not kill
Th e Savage hop e to d e al , ere long
A ve nge a c e b itterer thanhis wrong !
’
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H ark to that cry — long lo u d and shrill
F rom fie ld and fore st rock and hill
Thrilling and horribl e it rang
Aro u nd b e n e ath abo ve
Th e wild b east from his cave rn sprang
Th e wild bird from h e r gro ve !
Nor fe ar nor j oy nor a gony
W e re mingled in that midnight cry ;
B ut lik e th e lion sgrowl of wrath
W h e n falls that h u nter in his path
W hos e barb e d arro w d eeply s e t
IS rankling in his bosom y e t
I t told of hate fu ll d ee p and strong
Of ve nge anc e kindling o u t of wrong ;
It was as if th e crim e s of y e ars
Th e u nr e quite d toil— th e te ars
Th e sham e and hate which lik e n w e ll
E arth s gard e n to th e n e th e r H e ll
H ad fo und in N ature s s elf a tongue
Onwhich th e gather d horror h u ng ;
As if from cliff and stre am and gl e n
B urst on th e startl e d e ar sof m e n
That v oic e which ris e s u nto G od
— th e cry of blood !
S ol e mn and ste rn
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POEM S
w rrr r r rs R S
16
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—Th e
Dark brow d To u ssaint
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mhad risen
stor
O b e di ent to his maste r call
Th e Ne gro s mind had b urst its p rison
His hand its iron thrall !
Ye t wh er e was h e , whos e fi ery z e al
F irst tau ght the tram
pl e d h e art to feel
Until D e spair its e lf gr e w strong
And V enge anc e fe d its torch fro m wrong !
Now— wh e n th e th u nd er b olt is Sp e eding ;
N ow— wh e n oppr e ssion s h eart is bl ee ding ;
t c u rs e of Tim e
N ow— wh e n the laten
fire and blood
Is raining down , in
That c urs e which throu gh long y ears of crime
Has gather d drop by drop its flood
W hy strike s h e n
ot th e for e most on e
W h er e M urd er s stern e st d ee ds ar e d on e
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H e stood th e age d palms b en e ath
That shad ow d o e r his hu mbl e door
L iste ning with half s u sp e nd e d br
e ath
To th e wild so unds of fe ar and d e ath
To u ssaint l Ouv erture !
What marve l that hiS heart b e at high
Th e blow for free do m had b ee n gi ven ;
And blood had answer d to thecry
W hich e arth s e nt u p to H e ave n
W hat marvel that a fi erc e d elight
Sm
il e d grimly o e r his brow of night
As groan and sho ut and b ursting fl a
me
Told wh ere th e midnight te mp e st cam e
W ith bl ood and fir e along its van
An
d d e ath b ehind
he was a M A N !
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w nrr r rnns
POEMS
’
17
.
Ye s dark
l d Chieftainl— if the li ght
O f mild R e li gion s h e avenly ray
Un
v eil d not to thy m e ntal Sight
Th e lowli er and th e p u rer way
I n which the Holy S u fierer trod
M ee kly amidst th e sons of crim e
That calm r elianc e Upon G od
F or j u stic e in His own goo d tim e
That ge ntl en e ss to which b e longs
F orgiven e ss for its many wrongs
E ve n as th e primal martyr kn eeling
F or m ercy on th e evil d e aling
L e t not th e favor d w hite man nam e
Thy stern app e al with words of blam e
Has he not with th e light of H e ave n
Broadly aro und him mad e th e sam e !
Ye a on a th o u sand war field s striven
And glori e d in his Op e n sham e
K nee ling amidst his broth ers blood
To o ffe r mock e ry u nt o G od
e
AS if th e H igh and Holy On
C o uld smil e on d ee ds of m urd e r don e !
AS if a h uman sacrific e
W ere p ur er in His holy e ye s
Thou gh offer d up by C hristian hands
Than th e fo ul rite s of P agan lands !
-sou
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S ternly amidst his hou s ehold band ,
His carbin e grasp d within his hand
Th e white man stood pre par e d and still ,
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W
18
POEMS
’
H ITTIE R S
.
W aiting th e shock of mad d end m e n
’
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d fi e rc e as tige rs , wh e n
chaind , a n
Un
’
Th e horn winds thro u gh the ir cav ernd hill
’
.
And one was w ee ping in his sight ,
Th e fair e st flow e r of all th e isl e
Th e brid e who seemd b u t y e ste rnight
Th e image of a smil e
And clinging to h e r tre mbling kn ee
L ook d u p th e form of infancy
W ith t e arful glanc e ineith e r fac e ,
Th e s e cr e t of its fe ar to trac e
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or di e !
Th e white man
s e ye
His ste ady m u sk e t gl eamd along
As a tall Ne gro haste n d nigh
W ith fe arle ss ste p and strong
”
A mom e nt more
W hat ho To u ssaint !
His shadow cross a th e lighte d floor
“ Away ” h e sho u te d
fly with m e
;
Th e white man s bark is on th e s e a
H e r sails m u st catch th e s e award wind
F or s u dd e n v e
nge anc e sw ee ps b ehind
O ur br e thren from th e ir grave s have Spok en
Th e yok e is Sp u rnd— th e chain is b roken;
O n all th e hills o ur fire s ar e glowing
Throu gh all th e v al e s red blood is flow rng !
N o mor e th e mocking Whit e shall r e st
His foot u p on th e Negro s bre ast ;
No mor e at mom or eve shall drip
Th e W arm blood from th e drive r s whip
Ye t thou gh To u ssaint has venge anc e swor
n
F or all th e wrongs his rac e have born e
H a— stand ,
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POE MS
19
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Thou gh for e ach drop of Negro blood ,
Th e white man s ve ins shall p o ur a flood ;
N ot all alon e th e s ens e of ill
Arou nd his heart is lingering still
N or d ee p e r can th e white man fee l
Th e generou s w armth of grate fu l z e al
F ri ends of th e Ne gro ! fly with m e
Th e path is open to th e s e a :
Away for life — H e Spok e and press d
Th e you ng c hild to his manly br e ast
As h e adlong thro ugh th e cracking cane
D own sw e pt th e dark ins urgent tr ain
D ru k e n and grim — with sho u t and y ell
H ow l d thro u gh thed ark; lik e so u nds from h e ll !
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F ar o ut inp e ac e the w hite man s sail
S w ay d free b e for e th e s unris e gale
C lo u d lik e that island h u ng afar
Al ong th e bright hori z on s ve rge
O e r which the c u rs e of s ervil e war
Roll d its r e d torr e nt s u rge on s urge
And he—Rhe Ne gro champion— wh er e
Inth e fi
erce tu mult s tru ggl e d h e
G o trac e himby th e fi ery glare
O f dw ellings inth e midnight air
Th e y ells of tri umph and d e spair
Th e stre ams that crimson to th e sea!
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S l ee p calmly in thy d unge on tomb ,
B e ne ath B esancons ali e n sky
D ark Haytien — for th e tim e shall com e
Ye a eve n now is nigh
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w nr r r rE
20
'
'
POEMS
’
R s
.
W h e n eve ry wh er e thy nam e shall b e
Red eemd from color s in
am
f y
And m e n S hall l earn to Sp e ak of thee
As on e of e arth s gr e at S pirits b orn
I n s e rv itu d e and n urs e d in scorn
C asting asid e th e w e ary w e ight
And fetters of its l ow e state
I n that strong maj e sty of sou l
W hich knows no color tongue or clim e
W hich still hath Spu rnd th e bas e control
O f tyrants throu gh all tim e !
F ar oth er hands than mine may wre ath
The laur e l rou nd thy brow of d e ath
And Sp e ak thy prais e as one w
hosew ord
A tho u sand fi e ry S pirits Stir d
W ho cru sh d his fo e man as a worm
W hos e step on h u man h e arts fe ll firm
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may p erh aps call t o mind the b eau t iful sonnet of W i ll iam
W o rd sworth addressed t o To u ssain t l Ou v erture d u ri n his confin emen t
in Franc e
Tou ssaint — th ou most u nh app y manofmen!
W h eth er the wh i stl i ng rust ic t end s hl S plou g h
Wi th in thy h earing or th o u l i est now
B uri ed in some d eep d u ngeon s earl ess d en;
O h mi serab l e chieftainl— wh ere and w h en
W il t th o u find pat i enc e — Y et d ie not; do then
W ear ra th er in thy b ond s a c h eerfu l b rew :
T h ou gh fall en thyself n ever t o rise again
Live and t ak e comfort Th ou hast l eft beh ind
Powers th a t will work for th ee; air earth and ski es
Th ere s not a brea th ing of the common wind
Th a t will forg et th ee : th ou h ast great al l i es
T hy fri end s are ex u l t a t ions agoni es
”
u
r
n
d
A nd love and man s u nconq e ab l emi
2
*
The read er
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r rE R S
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POEMS
21
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B e min e th e b e tter task to find
A trib ut e for thy lofty mind
Amidst whos e gloomy venge anc e shon e
S om e mild ervirtue s all thin e own
S om e gl e ams of feeling p ure and warm
L ik e s unshin e on a Sky of storm
P roofsthat th e N egro s h e art r e tains
S om e nobl en e ss amidst its
That kindn ess to th e w rong d is n eve r
W itho u t its ex c ell ent r e ward
Holy tOh uman kind and ever
Acc e p tabl e to G od
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T H E Y ANKE E GIR L
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m
sings by h er wh eel atthat low cott door
W hich th e long evening shadow is str e tching b e for e
W ith a m u sic as sw ee t as th e m u sic which s ee ms
Bre ath e d Softly and faint in th e e ar of o u r dr e ams !
SH E
,
,
,
How brilliant and mirthful the light of h er e y e
L ik e a star glancing ou t from th e bl ue of th e Sky !
And lightly and fr eely h e r dark tr e ss e s play
O er a brow and a b osom as love ly as th e y !
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’
W ho com e s l nhis prid e to that low cottage door
Th e hau gh ty and rich to th e h u mbl e and p oor !
TiS th e gr e at S o u th e rn plante r— th e mast e r who wa ve s
His whi p of dominion o e r h undre ds of slave s
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N ay E ll e n— for sham e ! L e t thos e Y ank ee fools spin
W ho wo uld pass for o u r Slave s with a change of th eir Ski ;
L e t th e m toil as th e y will at th e loom or th e wh eel
Too stup id for sham e and too vul gar to fee l !
“
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B ut tho u art too lo vely and pr e ciou s a ge m
To b e bou nd to th eir b u rd ens and s ulli e d by th e m
F or S ham e E ll e n sham e —cast thy bondage asid e
And away to th e S ou th as my ble ssing and p rid e
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,
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22
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,
TO
WI LL IAM
G ARRIS O N
L L O YD
.
C H AM P ION of thos e who groan b e n e ath
OppressIOnS
’
iron hand :
I n vie w of p e n u ry hate and d e ath
I s ee thee fe arl e s s
: stand
S till b e aring u p thy lofty bro w
I n the stead fast strength of truth
I n manhood s e aling w ell th e v ow
And promis e of thy you th
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G o on — for tho u hast chos e n w e ll ;
O n in th e strength of G od !
L ong as on e h uman h eart shall Sw e ll
B eriSath th e tyran
ts~
rod
S p e ak in a sl umb ering nation s car
As tho u hast eve r S pok e n
Until th e d e ad in sin Shall h ear
Th e fe t ter s link b e brok e n !
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love th ee with a broth er s lo ve ,
I fee l my p uls e s thrill
To mark thy spirit soar abo ve
Th e clou d of h uman ill
M y h e art hath l eap d to answ er thin e
And e cho back thy words
AS l e aps th e warrior s at th e shin e
And fl
ash of k indre d swords
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rIE R s
'
POEMS
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Th ey te ll m e tho u art rash and vain
A s e arch e r afte r fam e
That thou art stri ving b u t to gain
A long e nd uring nam e
That tho u hast n e rve d th e Afric s hand ,
And steel d th e Afiic s h e art
To shak e al oft his venge fu l brand ,
And re nd his chain apart
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not knownth ee w ell and r ead
Thy ighty p urp os e long !
And w atch d th e trial s which have mad e
Thy h umanspirit strong !
’
And shall th e Sland e re r s d e mon bre ath
Av ail w ith on e lik e m e
To dim th e s unshin e of my faith
And earn e st tru st in th ee !
Have
1
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ou —
Go
th e dagge r s p oint may glar e
Am
id thy pathway s gloom
Th e fate which ste rnl y thr e ate ns th ere
’
’
Is g loridu s martyrdom
’
The n onward with a martyr s z e al
P r e ss on to thy r e ward
Th e ho ur wh e n man shall only kn eel
B e for e his F ath er— G od
.
25
TO TH E
E
L AT
ME MO R Y O F C H AR L E S
P
RE
E NT
SID
OF W
E S TE R N R ES E R VE
B
.
S T O RR S
E
COLL EG
,
.
a martyr to the in terests of his colored brethren For man y
mon ths did th a t mighty manofGod appl y his d i scri mina t ing and gigant i c
mind to the su bj ec t of S lavery and its remed y : and w hen his so u l could
no longer con tain h is h ol y indigna t ion against the u ph ol d ers and apolo
gists of th is u nrighteo us sy stem he gave ven t to his ac h ing h eart and
poured forth his cl ear thdu ghts and h ol y feel ings in su c h d eep and sou l
en whomhe wo u ld fain in his h u m
en trancing eloq u enc e th a t o th er m
b le
mod esty ack nowl edge his su periors sat a t his feet and l ooked u p as ch i l
“
”—
”
d en
tq the L ib erator l 6th of l l th m
Co rresp on
drento a paren t
o 1 833
He fel l
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Tnou hast fall e n in thin e armor ,
Tho u martyr of th e L ord !
O nwar d !
W ith thy last br e ath crying
And thy hand u pon th e sword
Th e hau ghty h e art d erid eth,
And th e Sinful li p r evil e s
B u t th e bl e ssing of th e p e rishing
Arou nd thy p illow smil e s !
.
,
W h e n to o ur c u p of tr embling
Th e add ed d rop is gi ven
And th e long s u sp e nd e d thu nd e r
F alls te rribly from H e aven
W h en a n e w and fe arful free dom
IS profl
er d of th e Lord
To th e Slow cons uming F amin e
Th e P e stil e nc e and S word
,
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26
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w
nr r r rs ns P O E M S
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Wh e nth e re fu ge s of F alseho od
S hall b e sw ept away inwrath
And th e te m p l e shall b e shak e n
W ith its idol to th e e arth
S hall not thy words of warni n
g
B e all remem
b er d th e n !
Arid thy now u nh eed e d m e ssa ge
B u rn in the h e arts of m e n !
.
,
,
,
,
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O p p re ssion s hand may scatte r
I ts n e ttl e s on thy tomb
And eve n C hristia nb osoms
Deny thy m e m ory roo m;
F or lying lips shall tort ure
Thy m e rcy into crim e
And th e sland e re r Shal l flo urish
AS th e bay tree for a tim e
’
,
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wh er e th e So uth wind linge rs
O n C arolina s pine s
O r fall s th e car el e ss su nb e am
Down Ge orgia s gold e n min e s
W h er e now b e neath his b urth e n
Th e toiling slave is dri ve n
W h er e new a tyrant s mocke ry
I s ofl
er d u nto H e a ve n
B ut,
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W h er e M ammon hath its altars
W et o e r w ith h u m an blood
And P rid e and L u st d eb as es
Th e workmanship of G od
’
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I
27
W
H ITTI
ER
POEMS
S
.
Th e r e Shall thy prais e b e spoke n
Red eemd from F als ehood s ban
W h e n th e fe tte rs Shall b e brok e n ,
And th e slave Shall b e a man!
,
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’
J oy
,
to thy sp irit b roth e r !
A tho u sand h e arts are warm
A tho u sand kindre d b osoms
Ar e baring to th e storm
W hat tho u gh r e d hand e d Viol e nc e
W ith s ecr e t F rau d comb in e
Th e wall of fir e is ro u nd u s
O ur P re s e nt H e lp was thin e !
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L o— th e waking u p Of nationS,
’
F rom S lavery s fatal sl ee p
Th e m u rm u r of a Uni vers e
D ee p calling u nto D ee p !
J oy to thy Spirit broth e r !
O n every wind of H e ave n
Th e onward ch ee r and s u mmons
O f F RE E DO M S S O UL is gi ve n !
,
’
G lory to G od for eve r !
B e yond th e d e s p ot s will
Th e so ul of F r ee dom live th
I mp e rishabl e still
Th e words which tho u hast u tter d
Are of that so ul a part
’
And th e good s ee d tho u hast scatter d
I s s p rin ging from the h eart
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W
’
H IT T IE R S
POEMS
.
I n th e evil days b e for e u s ,
And t he
trials y e t to com e
Ih th e shadow of th e prison
O r th e c rue l martyrdom
W e will think of th ee O bro th e r !
And thy sainte d nam e shall b e
I n th e bl e ssing of th e captive
And th e anth e m of th e fre e
,
,
,
.
29
S O NG O F TH E F R E E
.
L iving 1 sh all assert the right of F REE Drscu ssrorz ; d y ing I sh all
assert i t ; and sh o u ld I l eav e no o th er in h er i tanc e to m
y ch i l dren b y the
b l essm
L E S and
RINCIP
g of God I will l eave th emthe in h erit anc e of FREE P
”—
the ex a m
e
e
m
Damel
pl e of a manl y and ind ep end ent d ef nc e of th
“
,
,
,
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Webster
.
PRIDE of Ne w E ngland !
S o ul of o u r fath ers !
S hrink w e all crave n lik e
!
W h e n th e Storm gath ers
W hat thou gh th e te mp e st b e
O ve r u s low ering
W h er e s th e Ne w E ngland e r
S ham e fully cow e ring !
G rave s gr ee n and holy
Aro u nd u s are lying
F r ee w er e th e Sl ee p ers all
L i ving and dying !
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Back with th e S o uth ern er s
P adlocks and sco u rge s !
GO— l e t him fe tte r down
O c e an s fr ee s urge s !
G o— l e t him sil e nc e
W inds clo u ds and wate rs
Never Ne w E ngland s own
F r ee sons and dau ghters !
’
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,
,
’
30
TH E
H UNT E R S O F ME N *
.
,
H AVE y e h e ard of o ur h u nting o er mo untain and gl e n
Thro u gh ca ne brak e and for e s t —th e h unting of men!
Th e lords of o ur land to this h u nting have gon e
AS th e fox h u nter follows theso u nd of th e horn :
H ark
th e ch eer and th e hallo the crac k Of th e whip
And th e y e ll Ofth e ho u nd as h e faste ns his grip !
All blith e are o ur h u nters and nobl e th e ir match
Tho u gh hundreds ar e cau ght th e r e ar e millions to catch :
S O sp ee d to th e ir h unting ,o e r mo u ntain and gl e n
Thro u gh can e brak e and for e st— th e h u nting of m e n !
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G ay l u ck to o ur h u nte rs — how nobly th ey rid e
I n th e glow of th eir z e al and th e stre n gth Of th e ir prid e !
Th e P ri e st with his cassock fl u ng back on th e wind
J u st scree ning th e p olitic State sman b ehind
Th e saint and th e S inner with c ursing and pray er
Th e dr unk and th e sob er rid e m e rrily th er e
And w omanT kind woman— wife widow and maid
F or the good ofthe hwnted is l e nding h er aid :
H e r foot s in th e stirrup — h e r hand on th e r ein
How blith ely sh e rid e s to the h u nting of m e n !
,
,
,
,
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,
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’
O h ! goodly and grand is o u r h unting to s ee
“
I n this land of th e brave and this hom e Of th e free
,
”
.
Wri tt en on reading the report of the proc eedings of the A merican
eet ing in 1 834
iz ationSoci et y , a t its annua l m
l on
.
32
Cc
W
’
H I TTIE R S
POEMS
33
.
P ri est warrior and sta tesm an from G eorgia to M aine
Al l mounting the s ad dl e— all gra sping the rein
Right merrily hunting the b l ack man wh os e sin
Is the c u rl of his h air and the hu e ofhis s kin !
W 0 now to the hunted w ho tu rns him at b ay !
W ill our hunters b e turu d from their p urpose and prey !
Will th eir hearts fail within th em
nerves tr emb l e
wh en
All roughly they rid e to the hunting of men!
,
,
,
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,
,
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’
,
H o l— AL MS
for our hunters ! all W eary and faint
W ax the curs e ofthe si nner and pray er of the s aint
The horn is w ound faintly— the ec hoes are still
O ver cane b rake and ri ver and forest and hill
Haste— alms for ou r hu nters ! the hunted once more
H ave tu ru d from their flight w ith th eir b acksto the shore :
Wh at right have they h ere in the home ofthe w hite
S had ow d o er b y ou r b ann er of Freed oman
d R ight !
H o — alms for the hu nters ! or n ev er again
Wi ll th ey rid e in th eir pomp to the hunting of men!
.
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ALM S— AL M S for our hunters ! w hy will ye d elay ,
When their prid e and their gl ory are m elting aw ay ?
The p ars on has t uru d ; for on ch ar ge of his own
Who goeth a w arfare or h u nting alon e !
The p ol itic statesman lo ok s b ack w ith a sigh
Th ere is doub t in his h eart— th ere is fear in his eye
O h ! haste l est that doub ting and fea r sh al l prevail
And the h ead of his Steed take the pl ac e of theta il
O h ! haste ere he l eave us ! for w ho will rid e then
For pl eas ure or ga in , to the hunting of men!
’
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T O GOV M DUFFIE
’
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p tri r h l
“ The a
”
n
s
u
t
o
i tit i on f sl avery ,
a c a
p ubli caned ifice
'
.
”—
Gov
.
M
’
rner stone of ou r re
the co
nfii
'
.
-
e.
KIN G of C aroli na— hail !
h mpi on of O ppr ession s b attl e !
Lord of rice ti erce and cotton b al e
O f sugar b ox and human cattl e
Around thy templ es green and d ark
) t ob ac co wreath r ep os es ;
Thy own
Thys elf a b roth er P atri ar ch
O f Is aac Ab rah am and M os es !
L ast
’
c a
‘
-
-
,
,
-
,
,
,
Why not l — Their h ou s ehold rul e is thine ;
Li ke th eirs thy b ondmen feel its rigor ;
d thin e p erchance as concu b i ne
An
S ome s w arthy counterp art of H aga r
Why not — Lik e p atriarchs of ol d
The pri estho od is thy chos enstati on ;
Like them thou payest thy rites to gold
ion
cat
Ah Aaron s calf of Nu llifi
‘
,
,
,
,
.
,
’
.
All fair and s oftly —M ust w e then
Fro mR u i ns o p en j aw s to s ave us
Up on our ownfree w orking men
C onfer a master s sp eci al favors !
Whips for the b ack — chai ns for the h eels
H ook s for the n ostrils of D em oc racy
,
,
’
,
.
’
,
w ni r r rnns
'
’
'
POEMS
35
.
B efore it Spurns as w ell as feels
The riding ofthe Aristo crac y !
H o — fishermenof M arb l eh ea d !
H o — Lynn c ord w ainers , l eave your l eather
And w ear the yoke in kindness mad e
And cl ank your n eedful ch ains together
L et Low ell mills their thous ands yi eld ,
D ow n let the r ough Verm onter h asten
D own from the w ork sh op and the field ,
And th ank us for each chainw e fasten
.
,
,
.
S L A VES in the rugged Yank ee l and !
I tell th ee, C arol ini an n ever !
Our rocky hills and iron strand
Are free and sh all b e free for ever
The surf sh all w ear that strand away
O ur granite hills in d ust shall mould er
Er
e S l avery s h atefu l yok e shall l ay
Unb roken , on a Y an
kee s should er !
,
.
,
,
,
’
,
‘
’
N 0 G eorge M Du fl
ie — keep thy w ords
For the m ail plund erers of thy city
Whos e r obb er right is intheir s w ords
For rec reant P ri est and L ync h C ommittee !
Go point thee to thy cannon s mouth
And s w ear its b raz en lips are b etter
”
“
To guard the interests of the S ou th
Than p archment s croll or Ch arter s l etter s!“
’
,
,
-
-
’
,
,
,
,
’
,
See Speech
of Gov
MD
’
.
.
rtill ery company inCharl eston S
to ana
,
.
C
.
w nr r r rs ns
36
'
’
'
ro a
ms
.
W e fear not S tr eams whi ch b raw l most loud
Al ong th eir c ou rs e are oftenest sh allow ;
And l oud est to a d oub ting crow d
The coward pub lish es his val or
Thy c ourage has at l east b een show n
In many a b l oodl ess S outhern quarrel
F acing w ith hartsh orn and col ogne
The Georgian s h arml ess pistol barrel *
.
,
.
,
,
,
’
-
.
N o S outhron ! not in Y ank ee l and
Will thr eats li ke thine a fear awaken;
The men w ho on th eir charter stand
For truth and right may n
ot b e sh ak en
S till sh all that tru th ass ail thine ear ;
E ach b reez e from North ern mountains b lowing
The tones of Lib erty shall b ear
”
“
God s free incendiari es going !
,
,
,
,
.
,
.
,
’
W e gi ve th ee j oy — thy n am e is heard
W ith r everence onthe N eva s b ord ers ;
”
“
And turb an d Turk and P ol and s lord
And M etterni ch are thy appl aud ers
G o— if th ou l ov st su ch fam e and share
The mad E ph esi an s b as e ex ampl e
The h oly b onds of QNION tear
And cl ap the torch to FREE D OM S templ e !
’
’
’
,
,
.
,
’
,
’
,
’
af
fai r between
ill recoll ect the ch iv l
mi ngs of Georgia some y ears ago inwh i ch the
d Col Cu m
ie an
MD fl
p arti es forti fied th emselves wi th spiri tsp fhartshornand ea d e Cologne
Most
’
u
d
of our rea ers
.
”
w
a rous
,
,
,
u
.
w nrr r rnns
'
'
’
POEMS
.
D o this— H eaven s frown thy c ou ntry s c urse
Guilt s fiery torture ever b urning
The quen chl ess thi rst of Tantalus
And I xion s wh eel for ever turning
A nam e, for w hich the p aind est fi end
”
B elo w his o wn w ould barter never ,
Thes e sh all b e thine unto the end
Thy d amning h erita ge for ever
’
’
,
,
’
i
,
’
’
LIN E S
Writtenonreadi n
g
W R IGH T AND W R ON G IN B osronz” contai ni ng an
a ccou n
t of the meeti ng of the B oston Femal e Anti Sl av ery Soci ety,
an
d the MOB wh i ch foll owed , onthe 2 l st ofthe 1 0th m
on
th , 1 835
“
'
-
.
U NS H R INK ING fromthe storm
W ell h ave ye b orne your p art
With W O M AN S fragil e form ,
B ut more than m anho od s h eart !
F aithfu l to Freedo m w h en
Its nam e w as held acc urs ed
F aithfu l midst ru fl
ianm
en
Unt oy our holy trust
,
,
’
’
,
,
,
.
O h— steadfast in the Truth !
Not for yours el ves alone,
M atron and gentl e y ou th
Y our l ofty z eal w as show n :
For the b ondm an of all climes
For Fr eedom s l a st ab od e
For the hop e of future times
For the b ir thright gift of G od
,
’
For scornd and b rok enl aw s
For honor and the right
For the staked and p eril d ca u s e
O f lib erty and ligh t
’
’
38
W H rT r rE ns
’
40
POEMS
.
Until the trump et c all
-
O f Freedom has gone forth ,
With j oy and li fe to all
The b ondm en of the earth !
Until I MMORT AL M IND
Unshackl ed w al k s ab ro ad
And ch ains no l onger b ind
o
u
r God
The imag e o
f
,
.
Until no capti ve one
M urmurs on l and or w ave ;
And in his c our s
e the su n
L ook s down upon no S LAVE !
,
,
TO G B
.
A UT H OR
OF TH E W
.
E SQ
.
ORCE S TER D EMO CR AT I C ADD RE SS
.
of the p oor— go ou
S p eak for the Truth and R ight !
O nward— though hate and s c orn
Gloom r ound th ee as the night
S p eak— at each w ord of thine
S om e anc i ent Fraud is ri ven
And through its r ents of ruin Shine
The sunb eams and the h eaven!
FR I E ND
.
,
,
S p eak— for thy v oice w ill b e
W el come in each ab od e
Where manhood s h eart and knee
Are b end ed b ut to God ;
Wh ere honest b osoms hold
Their holy b irthright W ell ;
Where Freedom Spurns at M ammon s gold ;
Where Al anis not to sell !
’
’
ea —
’
Sp k for the poor m an s c aus e
For L ab ors j ust r eward
For vi ol ated law
O f natureand Of God !
’
*
4
41
W
42
’
H ITTIE R S
PO E M S
.
S p eak— let the Debtor h ear
Within his li vi ng grave
S p eak— T H UND ER in O ppression s
D eliverance to the slave!
’
ear,
Ay, Sp eak— whil e th er e is tim e,
freeman s cl aim
E re tho u ght b eco mes a crime,
And Freed omb ut a name
Whil e yet the T ongue and en
And P r ess are unforb id ,
And w e d are to feel and act a s men
S p eak— as our fath ers did !
For all
’
a
,
P
The l and w e love ere long
S hall k indl e at thy call ;
F als ehood and charter d Wrong
And leg al R obb ery fall
The proud Shal l not comb in e
The secret c oun c il ceas e
And und erneath his Sh eltering vine
S hall L ab or d well in p eac e
’
,
,
O ld M a ssachus etts yet
R etains her earli est fires
S till on her hills are set
The altars of her sires ;
”
“
H er fi er ce Democracie
Has yet its strength u nshom,
And pamper d P ow er ere long Shal l
Its G az a gates uptorn
’
-
.
see
W
’
H I TTIE R s
POEMS
P erish shall all which tak es
From L ab or s b oard and can!
P erish Shall all w hi ch mak es
’
iel
6 Sp an
.
h
t
e
M
an!
f
o
With freshend c ourage th en ,
O n to the gl orious end
E ver the s am e as thou has b een
The poor mans fastest fri end !
’
,
’
.
43
W
46
H
TT T I E R S P O E M S
’
.
O loved of thous ands ! to thy gr ave
S orrow ing of heart thy b rethr en b or e th ee !
The p oor manand the r es cu ed Sl ave
W ept as the b rok en earth clos ed o er th ee
And grateful t ears like summ er r ain
Qu ickend its dying grass again !
And th ere as to s ome pilgrim shrin e
S hall com e the ou tcast and the l ow ly
O f gentl e d eeds and w ords of thine
R ecal ling m emori es s w eet and holy !
,
,
’
,
,
’
-
,
,
,
O h ! for the d eath the righteous d ie
An end like Autumn s d ay d eclining
Onhum an h earts as on the S k y
With holi er tend erer b eauty Shining ;
AS to the p arti g so ul w er e giv en
The r adi an ce of anop ening H eav en !
AS if th at p u re and b l ess ed light
From Off th E ternal altar flow ing
W ere b athin g inits up w ard fl ight
The Spirit to its w orship going !
’
,
,
,
,
n
,
,
,
’
,
,
,
T H E S LAV E S HI P S
.
—
That fatal that p erfid iou s b ark
”
B u ilt i the ecli pse an
d ri gged with curses d ark
,
,
’
,
.
Miltons L ycz das
’
’
.
French sh ip Le Bod eur with a crew of twenty two men and with
on
e hu n
dred and si xty negro sl av es sail ed fromB onny inAfri ca April
—
181 9
Onapproach i n
h
t
e
li
n
t
e
r
i
b
l
l
d
y
b
k
e
o
anob ti n
ate
e
a
e
m
a
a
r
o
t
g
disease of the eyes—conta i o s and altogeth er b eyond the reso rces of
medi ci ne It was aggravated by the scarcity of water among the slaves
l y half a wi neg l ass p e d ay b ei ng all wed to an i ndividu al ) and by
! on
p rity of the ai inwh i ch th ey breath ed B y the advi ce
the extrem
e im
e of
all y ; b u t som
ofthe p hy si ci an th ey were brought u p on d eck occasi on
ch th er s a m
s
! l eap ed Ov er
the p oor wretch es l ock i n
selv es in
g th em
niv ersall y prev ail s among th em of b ei n
board inthe hop e wh i ch
g
w nh om
es inAfri ca
TO ch eck th i s the cap
h ei
swiftl y tran
sported t
tai nord ered se l who were stopp ed in the attempt to b e shot or
h anged b tere their compani ons The disease extend ed to the crew ; and
e f
ter another were smi ttenwith it u ntil onl y oneremai ned u naffected
on
Y et ev enth i s dread fu l con
ditiondid not preclu d e c l c l ation: to save the
ex pen
se of su pporti n
d ered u nsal eabl e an
ds
d to obtai ngroun
g sl av es ren
for a cl ai magai n
d erwriters thi ty i Of the neg oe having be
st the n
com
e b lin
d were th ownin
d d own
to the sea an
ed
Inthe mid st of th eir dreadfu l fears l est the solitary i n
divid al wh ose
ai n
si ght rem
ed u n
af
fected sho ld al so b e sei ed with the m
al ad y a sail
was discov ered It was the Sp n
i sh sl aver L eon The same di sease had
beenth ere ; and horribl e to tell all the crew had b ecome b li nd ! Unabl e
to assi steach other the v essel s p arted The S pan
i sh sh ip has never si nce
b eenh eard of The B od eur reached G ad al o p e onthe 2 1 st of J ne ; the
l y manwho had escap ed the disease and had th s beenen b l ed to steer
on
Sp eech f
the sl av er i n
to port cau ght it inthree d ays after its arrival
2
7
n
b
e o
e
J
e
1
8
0
t
F
c
h
h
a
m
D
t
i
e
1
i
u
a
n
t
h
e
e
n
C
M B en
C
o
n
s
t
n
r
n
a
m
i
f
p
j
The
-
,
,
.
r
,
g
,
,
,
s
u
u
u ,
‘
.
,
o
r
,
r
u
.
,
,
o
ea
,
so
,
r
,
.
,
v era ,
,
,
u
r o
o t
’
,
a
,
.
a
,
.
a
u
,
u
r
,
r
,
s x
r
-
s,
r
u
,
u
z
a
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
u
.
u
u
a
u
,
.
,
.
,
.
r
,
“AL L
u
,
?” c
ri ed the captain ;
”
“A
en s aid ;
a
!
t
h
e
s
e
a
m
,
y
y
H eave up the w orthl ess l u bb er s
”
The dying an
d the d ead
ready
s,
!
-
.
47
.
W
48
’
POEMS
H I TT IE R S
.
’
Up from the Sl ave ship s prison
Fi erc e b eard ed h eads w ere thrus t
No w l et the sh ark s look to it
”
TO S S up the d ea d ones first !
-
,
C orps e after c orps e cam e up
D eath had b een b usy th ere ;
Wh ere every b low is mercy
Why Should the S poil er S p ar e ?
C orps e after corps e th ey cast
S ull enly from the Ship ,
Y et b lo ody w ith the trac es
k an
O f fetter 1 in
d w hip
,
,
-
"
.
Gloomily stood the cap tain ,
With his arms u p on his b r ea st,
W ith his cold b ro w steml y knotted ,
And his iron lip compress d
“ Are all the d ead dogs o v er ?”
’
Grow l d through th at m atted li p
“ The b lind on es are no b etter
”
’
L et s lighten the good ship
’
.
,
.
’
H ark ! from the Ship s d ark b osom
The v ery sounds of H ell !
The rin ging Cl ank of iron
’
The m ani ac s Short, Sh a rp y ell
The ho ars e, lo w c urs e thro at stifl
ed
The st arving infant s mo an
The horror of a b reak ing h eart
’
’
ou r d through a moth er s gro an !
,
,
’
P
-
W
48
’
POEMS
H I TT I E R S
.
’
U p from the Sl av Ship s prison
Fi erc e b ea rd ed heads w ere thru st
No w l et the sh ark s look to it
”
TO SS up the d ead on es first !
e-
e
,
C orp s e after c orp s e cam e up
D eath h a d b een b usy there ;
W h ere every b lo w is m ercy
Why should the S poil er S p are ?
C orps e after corp s e they c ast
S ull enly from the Ship
Y et b loody w ith the trac es
O f fetter link and w hip
,
'
,
,
“
-
.
Gloomily stood the cap tain ,
With his arms up on his b rea st
With his cold b row sternly knotted ,
And his iron lip compress d
“ Are all the dea d dogs o v er ?”
’
Grow l d through th at m atted li p
“ The b lind on es are no b etter
”
’
L et s lighten the good Ship
,
’
.
,
.
’
Hark ! from the Ship s d ark b osom
The very sounds of H ell !
The rin ging Cl an k of iron
The m ani ac s short , Sh arp y ell
The ho ars e l ow curs e thro at stifl
ed
The starving infant s moan
The horror ofa b reak ing h eart
’
ou r d through a moth er s gro an !
,
’
,
,
’
P
’
-
W
’
H I TT IE RS
POEMS
49
.
Up from th a t lo athsom e prison
The stri ck en blind ones cam e :
B elow h ad all b een d arkness
Ab ove w as still the s am e
Y et the holy b rea th of H eaven
Was s w eetly b reathing th ere
And the heated b row of fever
Gool d in the soft sea air
,
.
,
,
’
.
O verb o ard with them shipm ates
C utl ass and dirk were pli ed ;
Fetter d and b lind , on
e after on
e
P lunged dow n the vess el s Sid e
The s ab re smote ab ov e
B eneath the lean Sh ark lay
Waiting w ith w id e and b loody j aw
H is qui ck and hum an prey
,
’
,
’
.
,
,
.
God of the E arth ! w h at cri es
R ang upw ard unto Th ee ?
V oIceS of agony and b lood
From ship d eck and from sea
The l ast d ull plunge w as heard
The l ast wave caught its stain
And the uns ated shark l ook d up
For hum anh earts in v ain
,
-
.
’
.
*
1
Red glow d the W estern wa ters
’
nwa s there
S catterin g al ik e enw ave and cloud
H is fi ery m esh of h air
The s etting
su
,
.
5
W
50
‘
’
POEMS
H l TTIE R S
.
Amidst a group in b lindness
A solitary eye
’
G a z ed from the b urdend Sl aver s d eck
Into that b urning Sk y
,
’
,
,
.
”
“
A sto rm spok e out the gaz er
IS ga th ering an
d at h and
’
C urs e on t—I d give my oth er eye
”
For on
e firm rood of l and
And th en he l au gh d — b ut only
H is echo d l augh r epli ed
For the b lind ed and the s uffering
Alon e w ere at his Sid e
,
,
“
’
.
’
’
.
N ight s ettl ed onthe w aters
And ona st ormy h eaven
Whil e fi ercely on th at lone ship s track
The thund er g u st w as dri ven
“ A s ail — th ank God a s ail ! ”
And a s the h elmsm an Spok e
Up through the sto rmy murmur
A Shout of gl adness b rok e
,
,
’
-
.
,
,
,
,
.
D ow n cam e the stranger vess el
Unh eeding on her w ay
S o n ear that on the Sl aver s d eck
F ell Offher dri ven Spray
H o ! for the love of merc y
”
We re p erishing and b lind !
A w ail of utter agony
C am e back u p on the w ind :
,
’
,
.
’
W
’
H ITTIE R S
POEMS
51
.
H elp u s ! for we are stri ck en
With b lindn ess ev ery one ;
’
Tend ays w e v e fl oated fearfully
Unnoting star or sun
Our Ship 3 the sl av er L eon
W e v e b ut a S core on b oard
O ur Sl aves are all gon e over
”
—
H elp for the love Of God !
“
,
.
’
’
Onlivid
b row s of agony
The b road red l igh tning sh on e
B ut the roar of W ind and thund er
S tifl
ed the ans w ering gro an
W ail d from the b rok en w ater s
A l ast d esp airing cry
AS k indling in the st ormy light
The stranger ship w ent b y
.
’
,
,
,
.
a:
a
t
a
a
t
sunny G au d al ou p e
A d ark hu ll d v ess el l ay
With a cr ew w ho n oted n ever
The night fall or the d ay
The b lossom of the orange
W as w hite b y every stream
And tropi c l eaf and fl ow er and b ird
Were in the w arm su nb eam
In
the
’
-
.
,
,
,
-
.
And the S k y w as b right as ever
And the mo onlight sl ept as w ell
O n the p al mtrees b y the hill Sid e
And the str eaml et of the d ell ;
-
-
,
,
W
’
H ITTIE R S
POE MS
.
And the gl anc es of the Creol e
Were still as archly d eep
And her smil es as full as ever
O f p a ssion and of sl eep
,
.
B ut vain w ere b ird and b lossom
The greenearth and the S k y
And the s mil e of hum an faces
’
To the ever d arkend eye ;
F or amidst a w orld of b eauty
The sl av er w ent ab road
With his ghastly vis age w ritten
B y theaw ful curs e of God !
,
,
‘
,
,
,
,
S TAN ZA S F OR TH E TI ME S
.
’
our fath ers l ov ed
The freed omwhi ch th ey toil d to w in?
Is this the soil w h ereon th ey moved ?
Are th ese the gr aves th ey Slu mb er in
Are w e the sons b y w homare b orn e
The m antl es whi ch the d ead h ave w orn ?
Is this
the l and
,
’
And Shall w e crou c h ab ov e th es e graves
With cra ven sou l and fetter d lip l
Y ok e in w ith mark d an
d b rand ed S LAVES
And tremb l e at the dri ver s w hip ?
B end to the earth our pli ant knees
And Sp eak— b ut as our masters pl eas e 7
,
”
’
.
’
,
’
,
“
S hall outrag ed N atur e ceas e to feel !
S h all M ercy s t ears no l onger flow ?
S h all ru ifianthr eats ofcord and steel
The dungeon s gl oom— th ass assin s b l ow
Turn b ack the spirit r ous ed to s ave
The Tru th— ou r C ountry— and the Slave?
’
’
’
’
,
T i mes” allu d ed to were those evil ti mes of the p ro slavery
neetz ng inF neu ii H ail for ihe suppressi onofFreed omof S p eech l est t
f un
d a ion of commerci al soci ety Invi ew of the
d an
e
r
t
e
hou l d en
g
ou trages wh i ch a caref l Ob serv ati onofth e ti m
es had en
ab l ed himto fo e
see m
ess born
e a ai n
st the aboli ti on
ists by
ust spr i n
g fromthe fal se w i tn
“
S ir I
f
t
m
the sp eak ers at th at m
eeti n
ight Garri sonsay o h e
g well m
”
s
o
n
conid er the m
anwho fi
res a city gu il tl ess incompari
*
2
The
“
-
,
/
9
s
I
,
h
t
o
s
.
r
u
g
s
,
,
,
.
,
5
*
53
’
W
54
H I TTIE R S
POEMS
.
O f human S kull s th at shrine w as m ad e
R ound w hi ch the pri ests of M exi co
’
B efore th eir lo athsom e id ol p ray d
Is Fr eed om s altar fashiond SO ?
And must w e yi eld to Freedoms God
?
f
f
As o ering m eet the negro s b lood
,
’
’
’
,
’
,
S hall t ongu es b e mute w hen d eeds are w rought
Whi ch w ell might Sh ame extr em est H ell ?
’
?
S hal l freemen lock th indignant thought
S hall M ercy s b osom ceas e to sw ell
Sh all H onor b l eed — S hal l Tru th s uccumb ?
?
s
o
u
l
b
e
S h all p en and press , and
dumb
,
’
,
N o— b y each spot of h aunted ground
Where Freedom w eeps her children s fall
’
—
B y P lymouth s ro ck and B anker s mound
B y Grisw old s staind and Shatter d w al l
’
B y W arr en s ghos t—b y L angdon s Sh ad e
B y all the m emori es of our d ead !
,
’
’
’
’
’
’
B y th eir enl arging sou ls w hi ch b urst
The b ands an
d fetters round th em set
B y the FREE P I L GR I M S P I R I T nurs ed
Within our inmost b osoms yet
B y all ab ove— around— b el ow
B e ours th indignant ans w er— N O
,
,
,
’
No—
’
guid ed b y our c ountry s l aws ,
For truth and right and suffering m an ,
,
,
W
56
’
H ITTIE R S
POE MS
.
Its life— its soul from slavery drawn ?
F als e— foul— profane ! Go— teach as well
O f h oly Truth from F als ehood b orn !
O f H eaven refresh d b y airs from H ell !
O f Virtue nurs ed b y op en Vi ce !
O f D emons p l anting P aradis e !
,
’
R ail on th en b rethren of the S outh
Y e Sh all not h ear the truth the l ess
’
No s eal is on the Y ank ee s m outh
NO fetter onthe Y ank ee s pr ess !
From our Green M ountains to the Sea,
One v oi ce Sh all thund er— W E A RE FRE E !
”
,
,
,
’
LINE S ,
Writtenonreading the spiri ted an
dm
l y r mr
v
an
of en
n
sy lv an
ia, inhis Message of 1836, onthe subj ect of Slav ery
rnor RIrNE nI
e a ks ofGo e
P
= r
,
.
TH ANK G od for the to k en — one lip is Still free
On
e Spirit u n
tram
mel d— unb ending one knee !
L ike the o ak of the mountain d eep rooted and firm
E r ec t wh en the mul titud e b ends to the s torm ;
When traitors to Freedom , and H onor , and G od
Are b ow d at an Id ol p ollu ted with b lo od ;
When the r ecreant North h a s forgotten her trust
And the lip of her honor is lo w in the dust
Th ank God , that one arm from the shackl e has b rok en !
Th ank G od , th at one m an , a s a freeman, h a s spoken !
’
-
,
,
,
,
’
_
,
,
b l ast has b een b l own!
D ow n thy tid e S usquehanna the mu rmu r has g one !
d Ch ain
To the l and of the S ou th— Of the Ch arter an
’
O f Lib erty sweetend w ith S l avery s p ain
Wh ere the cant of D emocrac y d w ell s onthe lips
O f the forgers of fetters and w i eld ers of w hips !
”
Wh er e chival ri c h onor m eans r eally no more
Th an sc ourging of w om en , and robb ing the poor !
O er th y cr ags, All egh any ,
’
a
,
,
’
,
t greatl y red ou nds to the credit and will serv e to perpetuate the
memory of th is i nd epend ent farmer and h i gh mind ed statesmanth at he
al on
e of all the Gov ern
ors inthe Un
i on has met the i nsul ti ng d emand s
an
d scare crow m
ner becomi ng a f eeman
en
an
aces of the Sou th ina m
an
d a h ater ofsl av ery inhis Message to the L egi sl ature ofP
en
n
sy lv an
ia
4* Thef
ac
,
-
,
,
,
,
-
,
r
.
,
57
W
58
’
H ITTI E R S
POEMS
.
Wh ere the M olo ch of S l avery Sitteth onhigh ,
An
d the w ords whi ch he utters are— WORS H I P , OR DI E !
Right onward , Oh Sp eed it ! Wh erev er the b lood
O f the wrong d and the guiltl ess is c rying to God ;
Wh erever a Sl ave in his fetters I S pi ning ;
Wherever the l ash of the driver is tw ining ;
Wh erever from k indr ed torn rud ely ap art
C om es the sorrow ful wail of the b rok en of h eart ;
Wh er ever the Sh ackl es of tyr anny b i nd ,
In Sil ence and d arkness , the God gi ven mi nd ;
Th ere G od sp eed it onward —its truth w ill b e felt
The b onds Sh all b e l oosend — the iron Sh all m elt !
,
’
,
,
-
,
’
P
And Oh w ill the l and w h ere the free soul of E NN
S till lingers and b reath es over mountain and gl en
Will the l and w her e a B E NE Z E T S Spirit w ent forth
To the p eel d and the meted and outcast ofearth
Wher e the w ord s of the Ch arter of Lib erty first
Fr omthe sou l of the sage and the p atri ot b u r st
W h ere first for the w rong d and the w eak of th eir kind
The Christi an and S tatesman th eir ef
forts co mb i nd
Will that l and of the fr ee and the g ood w ear a ch ain ?
Will the c all to the rescu e ofFreedom b e vain
,
’
’
,
,
’
,
,
’
No, R I T N ER ! — her Fri end s, at thy warning sh all stand
E r ec t for the truth , li ke th eir ancestral b and ;
F orgetting the feuds and the strife of p ast ti me,
”
C ounting c oldness inj usti ce, and Sil ence a crim e ;
T u rning b ack from the cavil of creeds to unite
O nc e ag ain for the p oor in d efen ce of the R ight ;
,
W
’
H ITT IE R S
POEMS
59
.
lmly b ut firmly the fu ll tid e of W rong
Ov erw helmd b ut not b orn e onits surges al ong ;
Unappal d b y the d anger the Sh ame and the p ain
And c o unting each tri al for Truth as th eir gain !
B reasting
ca
,
,
,
’
,
’
,
,
,
d tru e,
And that b old h earted yeomanry , hon est an
-
Who h aters of frau d give to l ab or its d u e ;
Whos e fath ers , of old s ang in concert w i th thine
O n the b ank s of S w etara the songs of the Rhine
The p u re G erman pil grims who first d ared to b rave
The s corn of the proud inthe caus e of the Sl av e
Will the sons of s u ch menyi eld the l ords of the S outh
?
On
e b ro w for the b r and— for the p adlo ck on
m
uth
o
e
They cat er to tyr ants — They ri vet the chain
Whi ch th eir fathers smote Off on the n egro again ?
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
N o N E V E R — one v oi ce like the s ound in the cloud
When the ro ar of the st ormw axes l ou d and mor e l oud
Wh er ever the foot of the freemanhath press d
Fromthe D el aw are s marge to the L ake of the W est
Onthe S outh goin
d gro w
g b reez es Sh all d eep enan
Till the l and it sw eeps over Sh all tr emb l e b elo w
T he v oi ce of a PEOP L E — upris en— aw ake
’
P ennsyl vani a s watch w ord , w ith Freed om at stake
Thrilling u p fromeach vall ey fl ung d ow n from each h eight
”
OUR CO UNT RY AND L I B E RTY — GOD FOR TH E R I GH T !
,
,
,
,
’
’
,
-
,
,
,
mark ab le fact that the first testimony of a reli gi ou s b od y
”
“
s
n
r
again
st n
egro sl ave ry , was th at of a Soci ety of G erm
e
an
F i d in
en
nsylvani a
I t is a
P
re
.
,
H YM N ,
meeti ng of the A nti s lavery Soci ety at Ch ath amStreet
C h ap el N Y h eld onthe 4th ofthe 7th month 1 834
Writtenfor
the
,
.
.
,
,
.
,
O TH O U who se pres ence w ent b efor e
O ur fath ers inth eir w eary way
As w ith Thy chos en moved of yore
The fi
re b y night— the c loud b y d a '
y
,
,
When from eac h templ e of the fr ee,
A nations s ong as cends to H eaven ,
M ost H oly F ath er ! unto Th ee
?
May not our humb l e prayer b e gi ven
’
Thy children all— though hu e and form
Are v ari ed in Thine ow ngood w ill
With Thy o wn holy b reathings w arm ,
And fashiond in Thin e im age still
’
.
W e th ank Thee F ather
—
hill and p l ain
Around us w ave their fruits once mor e
And cl u ster d v ine, and b l ossomd grain ,
Are b ending round each c otta g e door
,
,
’
’
.
And p eace is h ere ; and hop e and love
Are round us as a m antle thro wn ,
And unto Th ee, supr eme ab ov e,
The k n ee of pray er is ho w d al on e
’
.
60
W H
’
POE MS
ITTIE R S
B ut oh , for thos e this
61
.
d ay can b ring
AS unto us no j oyful thril l
For thos e who, und er FREE DOM S w ing
Are b ound in S L AVERY S fetters sti ll :
,
,
’
,
’
For thos e to w hom Thy li ving w ord
O f light and love is never given
For thos e whos e ears h ave never h eard
The promis e and the hop e of H eav en !
For b roken heart and clouded mind ,
Whereon no humanm erc i es fall
O h b e Thy grac ious lo ve inclin ed ,
Who as a fath er , pitiest all !
,
,
,
And grant 0 F ath er ! th at the time
O f E arth s d eliv erance may b e near
Wh en every l and and tongue and clime
The m ess age of Thy love sh all h ear
,
’
,
,
,
,
Wh en, smitten as with fire from H eav en
The capti ve s ch ain sh all s ink in d u st
And to his fetter d soul b e gi ven
TH E GL OR I O US FREE D OM OF THE J US T !
’
,
’
,
HYMN
,
Writtenfor the cel ebrationofthe T h ird A nniversary ofBriti sh E mancip a
tionat the B road way Tabernacl e
, N Y
,
.
“
.
,
First ofA ugu st
,
O LY F ather — j ust and tru e
Are all Thy w ork s and w ords an
d ways
And unto Thee al one are d u e
Thank sgi ving and eternal pr ais e !
As children Of Thy gracious c are
W e veil the eye— w e b end the knee
With b roken w ords of prais e and pr ayer
F ath er and God w e come to Th ee
O
”
1 837
.
H
,
,
,
,
.
,
For Thou h ast h eard , 0 God of right
The Sighing of the Isl and Sl ave ;
An
d stretc h ed for him the arm of might
Not Shortened that it could not s ave
The l ab orer sits b en eath his v in e
The sh ackl ed soul and h and are free
Th ank sgiving — for the w ork is Thine !
P rais e — for the b l essing is of Thee !
,
,
.
,
And oh , w e feel Thy pres en c e h ere
Thy aw ful armin j udgm ent b are !
Thine eye h ath s een the b ondm an s tear
Thine ear h ath h eard the b ondm an’ s pra yer !
’
62
P
C L ER ICAL O P R E SS OR S
.
rt ofthe cel ebrated pro sl avery meeti ng inC harl eston S C
onthe 4th of the 9th m
on
th 1 835 pu blish ed inthe Co ri er ofth at city it is
“
stated
ation
T he CLERGY of all d enomin
s a tten
d ed ina b od y L E ND
R OCEE DIN GS
ING T H E IR S ANCT ION To TH E P
an
d addi n
g by th eir p re
”
!
pressive ch aracter ofthe scene
ce to the i m
sen
Inthe Repo
-
,
,
u
,
,
.
,
,
,
God —and th es e are th ey
Who ml mster at Thine altar God of R ight !
Menwho their h ands w ith pr ayer and b l essing l ay
OnIsr ael s Ark of light !
J US T
,
’
?
n
Wh at ! pr each and kidnap me
?
—
Gi ve thank s and rob Thy ow nafilicted poor
T al k of Thy glori ous lib erty and th en
?
B olt h ard the captive s door
,
’
Wh at ! s erv ants of Thy o wn
M er c iful S on , who cam e to s eek and s ave
The homel ess and the outc ast ,— fetteri ng dow n
’
The task d and pl u nd er d Sl ave !
’
P il ate and H erod fri end s !
Chi ef pri ests and rul ers as of ol d c omb ine !
Just G od and holy ! is th at church whi c h l ends
S tren gth to the Spoil er , Thine
,
,
,
64
.
,
W
’
POEMS
H ITTIE R S
65
.
P aid hypo cri tes who turn
Judgment asid e and rob the H oly B ook
O f thos e high w ords of tru th whi ch s ear ch and b urn
In w arning and reb uk e
,
,
.
F eed fat ye lo c us
ts , feed !
And in your tassel d pulpits thank the L ord
Th at, from the toiling b ond man s u tter need
Y e pil e your ownfu ll b o ard
,
’
,
,
’
,
.
H ow long 0 Lord ! how long
S hall su ch a P ri esthood b arter truth away
And , in Thy nam e for robb ery and w rong
At Thy ownaltars pr ay
,
,
,
’
IS
not Thy h and stretch d forth
Visib ly in the h eavens to aw e and smite ?
S h all not the livi ng God of all the earth
And h eaven ab ove do right ?
,
,
,
W oe th en to all who grind
Their b rethren of a C ommonF ather down !
To all who plund er fr om th immortal mind
Its b right and gl oriou s crown!
,
,
’
i
'
W oe to the P ri esth ood ! w oe
To thos e w hos e hire is w ith the pri ce of b l ood
P erverting d ark ening ch anging a s they go
The s ear ching truths of God !
,
,
Their glory and th eir might
S hall p erish ; and their very nam es Sh all
,
be
W
66
’
H ITT IE R S
POEMS
.
Vil e b efore all the p eopl e in the light
O f A W OR L D S L I B ERTY
,
’
.
O h ! S p eed the mom ent on
When Wrong Sh all c eas e— and Lib erty , and Love
And Truth and R ight throughout the earth b e known
AS in th eir hom e ab ove
,
,
,
.
LIN E S
,
P
Wri ttenonthe adopti onof inckney’s Resolu tibn
s, inthe House ofKepre
d the passage of C al hou ns B ill of A bom
sen
tativ es, an
i nati ons” to
a secon
d readi ng inthe Senate ofthe United States
’
,
.
N ow b y our fathers ashes ! w h ere S the Spirit
O f the tru e hearted and the u nsh ackl ed gone ?
S ons of old freemen do we b ut inherit
Th eir names alon e ?
’
’
,
-
,
old P ilgrim spirit qu ench d w ithin us ?
S toops the proud m anhood of our souls S O lo w
That M ammon s l ure or P arty s wil e canw in us
To Sil enc e no w ?
’
IS the
’
,
’
’
N 0 When our l and to ruin s b rink is verging
In G od s nam e, l et us Sp eak whil e there is time !
N ow , w hen the p adlo ck s for our lips are forging
S I L E N CE I S CR I ME !
.
,
’
,
What ! Sh all w e h en c eforth humb ly a s k as fav or s
R ights all our o wn ? In madness Shall w e barter
For treacherous p eace the FREE D OM N ature gave us
God and our ch arter !
,
,
H ere sh all the sta tesman
,
?
e e
s eek the free to f tt r
H ere Lynch l aw light its horrid fires on high ?
And in the church th eir proud and Skill d ab ettor
M ak e truth a lie !
’
,
,
,
“
67
W
68
’
POE MS
H ITTIE R S
.
’
Torture the p ages of the h allo w d B ib l e
To s anction c rime and robb ery and b l ood !
And , in O p p r ession s h a teful s ervi c e, lib el
?
B oth m an and God
,
,
,
’
S hall our New Engl and stand erec t no longer,
B ut stoop in chains upon her dow nw ard w ay
Thi ck er to gath er on her limb s and stronger
Day after d ay !
,
O h no ; m ethinks from all her w ild , green mountains
From v all eys w here her Slumb ering fath ers lie
From her b lue ri vers and her w elling fou ntai ns
And cl ear , c old sky
,
,
From her rough c o ast , and isl es , w hi ch hungry Oc ean
Gn aw s w ith his surges — fr om the fisher s S ki ff
With white s ail s waying to the b illow s motion
f
R ound ro ck an
d c li f
’
,
’
From the free fire Sid e of her unb ought farmer
From her free l ab ore
r at his loomand w h eel
From the b row ns m
ith Shop Wh ere b en eath the h amm er
R ings the red st eel
-
-
,
,
From eac h and al l , if God hath not fors aken
O ur l and , and l eft us to anevil choi ce
Loud a s the summ er thund erb olt Shall w ak en
A PEOPL E S VO I CE !
,
’
,
W
’
POEM S
H I T T IE R S
69
.
and stem! the North ern w inds sh all b ear it
O ver P otom ac s to S t M ary s w ave ;
And b uri ed Fr eedom Sh all aw ake to h ear it
Within her grave
S tartl ing
’
’
.
.
O h l et th at v oi ce go forth ! The b ondm an Sighing
B y S antee s w av e in M ississippi s can e
S hall feel the hOp e w ithin his b osom dying
R ev i ve again
,
’
’
,
,
,
,
.
go forth ! The millions w ho are gaz ing
S adly upon us from afar Shall smil e
And unto God d ev out th ank sgi ving raising,
B l ess us the whil e
L et it
,
,
.
O h for your an c i ent freedom pure and holy
For the d eliverance of a gro aning earth
For the wrong d capti ve b l eeding cru sh d and lowly
L et it go forth !
,
,
,
,
’
’
,
,
,
S ons ofthe b est offath ers ! w ill ye fal ter
?
W ith al l they l eft ye p eril d and at Stak e
H O ! once a ga in on Freedom s h ol y alt ar
The fi
re awak e !
’
’
P ray er strengthend for the tri al c om e togeth er
P ut on the h arness for the mor al fight
And w ith the b l essing ofyour h eavenly F ath er
MA INTA IN TH E R I GHT !
-
’
,
,
,
,
,
,
LIN E S
d t
,
r tary of the B ostonY oung Mens
An
ti Sl avery Soci ety
oh the ea h ofS OL IV E R TORRE Y , Sec e
.
’
-
.
GO N E
b efore us , 0 our b rother
To the Spirit-l and !
V ainly look w e for anoth er
In thy pl ac e to stand
Who Sh all offer youth and b eauty
O n the wasting shrine
O f a stern and lofty duty
?
e
With a faith like thin
,
.
,
O h thy gentl e smil e of greeting
Who a gain sh all see !
W ho amidst the sol emn m eeting
G az e againonthee
Who w hen p eril gath ers o er us
Wear so c alm a b row ?
Who , w ith evil menb efore u s
?
S o s erene a s thou
’
,
,
’
,
,
,
E arly h ath the spoil er found th ee,
B roth er of our love !
Au tumn s fad ed earth around th ee
And its storms ab ov e !
’
,
70
W
'
72
’
H I TTIE R S
POE MS
.
Wilt thou not 0 b rother meet us
S ometimes on our way ,
And in hours of s adness , greet us
As a s p irit m ay
,
,
,
P eace b e w ith th ee 0 our b roth er
In the Spirit l and !
V ainly look w e for an oth er
In thy pl ace to stand
Unto Truth and Freedom giving
All thy early p ow ers
B e thy v irt u es w ith the li v ing ,
And thy s p irit ours !
,
-
.
,
,
L INE S ,
Writtenonreadi n
g
famous “ P
A S T ORAL LE TT E R” of the Massachu
eral A ssoci ati on 1 837
setts Gen
the
.
,
S o this is all — the utmost reach
O f pri estly po w er the mind to fetter !
When l aymen think— w h en w omen p reach
”
“
—
A w ar of w ords a Pa stor al L etter !
N ow Sh ame up on ye p arish P op es !
’
W a s t thus w ith th os e your pred ecessors ,
W ho s cal d w ith racks and fi
re an
d r op es
?
Their lo vi ng kindness to transgr essors
,
,
,
,
’
A P astoral L et ter grave and d u ll
Al as ! in hoof and horns and featu res
el d b ull
H ow different is your B rookfi
From himwho thund ers from S t P eters !
Y our p astoral rights and pow ers from harm
?
Think ye canwords al on e pr es erv e th em
Y our wis er fathers taught the arm
And s w ord of temporal pow er to s erve th em
”
“
,
,
,
.
,
,
-
O h , glorious d ays— when Chur ch and S ta te
W ere w ed ded b y y our Spiritu al fathers !
A d on sub m
issi ve Shoul d ers sat
Y our W il sons and y ou r C otton M athers
.
n
,
.
7
73
'
W
No vil
’
H ITTIE R S
POE MS
.
”
“
e
itinerant th en cou ld m ar
The b eauty of y our tr anquil Zion ,
B ut at his p eril of the s car
O f ha ngm an s whip and b randing iron
.
’
-
.
Th en whol esom e l aw s rel ieved the Church
O f h eretic and mischiefmaker
And pri est and b ailiff j oined in s earch
B y turns , of apist, Witch , and QIIaker !
The sto ck s w ere at each Chur ch s d oor
The gallow s stood on B oston C ommon
A P apist s ears thepil l ory b or e
The gallo ws rop e, a Qu ak er w om an !
,
c
,
P
,
’
,
,
’
,
-
Y our fath ers d ealt not a s ye d eal
“
”
With non pr ofessing franti c teachers ;
Th ey b or ed the tongue w ith red hot steel
“
And fl ayed the b ack s of femal e preach ers
O ld N ewb ury , h ad her fi elds a t ongu e,
And S al em s str eets c ould tell th eir story,
O f faintin g w om an dr agged along,
G ash ed b y the w hip accurs ed and g ory '
-
-
,
‘
’
,
And w ill ye ask me, w hy this taunt
O f m emori es s acr ed from the scoIner
And w hy w ith reckl ess h and I pl ant
A n ettl e on the graves ye honor ?
Not to r eproach New Engl and s d ead
This record from the p ast I summon
O f manho od to the s caffold led
And Suffering and h eroi c w oman
-
’
,
,
.
”
.
W
’
H ITT IE R S
POE MS
75
'
.
N o— for you rselves alone, I tu rn
The p ag es of intol eran
c e over
Th at in their spirit d ark and stem
Y e h aply may your o wn dis c ov er !
”
“
For if ye cl aim the p astor al right
To Sil enc e Freed om s voi ce of w arni ng
And fromyour pr ecincts shutthe light
O f Freedom s d ay around ye d awning ;
,
,
,
,
,
’
,
’
If w h en anearthqu ake v oice of po wer
And signs in earth and heaven are Show ing
That forth , in its appointed hour
The S pirit of the L ord is going !
And w ith th at S pirit Freed om s light
O n k indred tongu e and p eopl e b reaking,
Whos e Slumbering millions , at the Sight
In glory and in strength are wak ing !
,
,
,
’
,
,
,
,
,
When
for the Sighing
of the poor
And for the needy God h ath risen
And ch ains are b r eak ing and a door
IS op en
ing for the soul s in prison !
If then ye w ould w ith puny hands
Arrest the very w ork of H eav en
And b ind anew the evil b ands
Whi ch G od s right arm of p ower h ath riven
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
’
What m arvel th at in many a mind
Thos e d ark er d eeds ofb igot madness
Are c los ely w ith your ovvnc omb ined
”
“
?
Y et l ess in anger th an in s a dness
,
,
,
W
76
’
H ITTIE R S
POEMS
.
Wh at m arv el if the p eopl e l earn
To cl aim the right of free opinion ?
Wh at m arvel if at times th ey epum
The an c i ent yok e of your dominion ?
,
,
O h , ho w c ontra st w ith such as ye
A L E AVI TT S free and generous b earing !
A ERRY S calm integrity
A H E L P S z eal and C hristi an d aring !
A FOL L E N S soul of s acrifice
’
And M A Y S w ith k indness overfl o wing !
H ow green an
d lovely in the ey es
O f freem en are th eir grac es gro wing !
,
,
P
P
’
’
,
’
’
,
Ay, th ere
’
a gl ori ous remn ant yet
W hos e lips are w et at Fr eedom s foun
tains ,
The c oming of w hos e w el c om e feet
IS b eautiful upon ou r m ou n
tai ns !
Men w ho the gosp el tidings b ring
O f Lib erty and L ove for ever
Whos ej oy is one ab iding Spring ,
Whos e p eace is a s a g entl e river !
S
,
’
’
,
,
B ut ye w ho s corn the thrilli ng tal e
O f C arolina s high soul d d aughters ,
Whi ch echo es h ere the m ournful wail
O f s orrow fromE d isto s w aters
C los e w hil e ye may the pub lic ear
ali ce v ex
w
m
ith
Sl
and er w ound th em
With
The pure and g ood Sh all throng to h ear
And tri ed and manly hearts surround th em
,
’
’
-
’
,
,
.
,
.
WH
’
IT T I E R S
O h , ev er m ay the
Théir way
Pr
ow e
POEMS
77
.
w hi ch led
su ch
a fi ery tri al
And strengthend w omanho od to tread
The w in e pr ess of such s el fd eni al
B e round th em in anevil l and
With w isd omand w ith strength from H eaven
W ith M iri am s voice and Ju d ith S h and
And D eb orah s song for triumph gi ven !
‘
to
,
’
-
-
,
,
'
’
’
,
,
’
And wh at are ye w ho strive w ith G od
Against the ark of H is s al vati on
M oved b y the b reath of pra yer ab ro ad
With b l essings for a dying n ation ?
What b ut the stubb l e and the h ay
To p erish even as flax consuming
With all that b ars H is gl orious w ay
B efor e the b rightn ess of H is c oming
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
And thou ,
?
Angel w ho S O l ong
Ha st w aited for the glori ous tok en
Th at E arth from al l her b onds of wrong
To lib erty and light has b rok en
Ang el Freedom soon to th ee
The sounding trump et sh all b e gi ven
And over E arth s fu ll Ju b il ee
S h al l d eep er j oy b e felt in H eaven !
sad
,
,
,
’
7
*
,
TH E M O R A L
WAR FAR E
.
WH E N Freedom on
her n atal d ay,
’
her w ar rock d cradl e l ay,
,
Within
An iron race aro und her stood
B apti z ed her infant b ro w inb lood
And , through the storm whic h round her s w ep t
Their c onstant w ard and W atching k ept
,
,
,
.
Then , wh ere qui et h erds r epos e
The ro ar of b al eful b attl e ros e,
And b rethren of a c ommon tongu e
To mortal strife as ti gers sprun
g
’
And every gift on Freedom s Shrine
Was m an for b east , and b l ood for w ine !
,
,
O ur fath ers to th eir graves have gon e ;
Their stri fe is p ast— th eir trium p h w on;
B u t stern er tri als w ait the rac e
Whi ch ris es in their honor d pl ace
A MORAL W A R FA RE w ith the c rim e
And folly of an evil time
’
.
’
S o l et it b e In God s o wn might
W e gird u s for the c oming fight
And , strong in H imWhos e caus e is ours
In c onfl i c t with unholy pow ers ,
W e grasp the W eapons H e has given ,
The Light and Truth and Lo ve of H eaven !
.
,
,
,
78
'
W
80
’
POEMS
H IT T I E R S
.
C all back tciQuincy s Shad e
That steadfast sonof thine ;
G o— ifthy hom a ge must b e p aid
’
To S l avery s p ag od Shrine
S eek out som e m ean er o ffering th an
The free b orn soul of th a t old man
’
-
,
-
.
C all that tru e Spirit b ack
nt and young ;
S O eloque
In his ow nv al e of M errim ack
No ch ains are on his t on gu e !
B etter to b r eath e its cold k een air
Than w ear the S outhron s Sh ackl e th ere
,
,
,
’
.
Ay, l et th em h asten hom e,
And r ender up th eir trust ;
Through themthe P ilgri mstate is dum
b
H er proud lip in the dust !
H er c ouns els a nd her g entl est w ord
O f w arning Sp u m d a sid e, u nh eard !
-
’
’
c om e back , and Shake
The b as e dust from th eir feet ;
And w ith th eir tal e of outra ge w ake
The free h ea rts W h om th ey m eet ;
And Show b efor e indi gnant men
The s c ars Wh er e S l av ery s c h ain h a s b een
L et th em
’
Back from the C apitol
It is no pl ace f
or th ee !
B eneath the arch of H eaven s b lu e w all
Thy v oi ce m ay still b e free !
’
.
W
’
POEMS
H ITTIE R S
81
.
What p ow er sh all chain thy Spirit th ere
In God s free sun and freer air ?
,
’
A v oi ce is calling th ee,
From all the m artyr graves
O f thos e stern men, in d eath m a de free,
Who coul d not live as Sl av es
The slumb erings of thy honor d dead
Are for thy s ak e disqui eted !
-
.
’
The curs e of
S l avery c om es
S till n ear er d ay b y d ay ;
S h all thy pure altars and thy homes
’
B ecome the S poil er s prey
S hal l the dull tread of fetter d Sl av es
S ou nd o er thy old and holy graves
,
’
’
P rid e of the old TH I RT E EN !
That c urs e m ay yet b e Stay d
S tand thou inFreed om s Strength b etw een
The li v ing and the d ead ;
S tan d forth for God and Lib erty
Inone Strong effort w orthy th ee
’
’
,
,
‘
,
-
O n ce more l et F an euil Hal l
B y freemens feet b e trod
And give the echo es of its w all
O nce m ore to Freedom s God !
And in the midst uns een sh all stand
The migh ty fath ers of thy l and
’
,
’
,
,
.
W
82
Thy
’
H I TT IE R S
P O E MS
.
gather d Sons Sh all
The soul of Adams
feel
n ear
And O tis with his fi ery z eal
And W arr en s onw ard ch eer ;
And h ear t to heart Sh all thrill a s w h en
Th ey moved and sp ake as li ving men
‘
,
,
’
.
Fling fromthy C apitol
Thy b anner to the light
An
d o er thy Charter s s acred s c roll
For Freedom and the R ight
B reathe once a gain thy v ow s unb rok en
S p eak on c e a ga in a s thou h ast sp oken
,
,
,
’
’
,
,
,
,
.
O n thy b l eak hills , Sp eak out !
A W ORL D thy w ords Sh all hear ;
And they w ho listen round ab out
In fri endship , or in fear
S hall know th ee still when s orest tri ed
Unsh ak en and
,
,
,
,
,
Massach usetts has held herway ri ght onward,u nsh ak en, u nsed u ced
”—
tativ es of
Sp eech qf C Cashin
ed
un
terrifi
g inthe H ou se of Rep resen
,
'
.
.
the
U
.
1 836
.
T H E FAR EW E LL
OF A V
I R GI NI A
SL
AV E
R TO H ER DAUGHTE R S
SOUT H E R N B OND A GE
M OTHE
,
SOLD
I NI O
.
gone— sold and gone,
To the rice sw amp d ank and lon e,
Wh ere the sl ave Whip ceas el ess s w ings ,
Wh ere the n oisom e insec t stings
Where the F ever D emon strew s
P oison With the fal ling dew s ,
Where the si ckly s u nb eams gl are
Through the hot an
d misty air
Gone gon e— sol d and g one
d lone,
To the ri ce s wamp d an
k an
From Virginiais h ills and w aters
W oe is me, my stol en d aughters !
GO N E ,
-
-
,
’
,
,
,
-
,
_
Gone, gone— sold and gone
To the ri c e s wamp d ank and lone
Th ere no moth er s eye is n ear them,
Th ere no moth er s ear canhear them ;
N ever, When the torturing l ash
S eams their b ack With many a ga sh
S hall a mother s kindness b l ess them
O r a moth er s arms caress th em
Gone, gone— sold and gon e,
To the ri c e s wamp d ank and l on e,
From Virgini a s hills and w aters
'
W Oe is me, my stol en d aughters
,
-
.
’
’
,
’
,
’
.
-
’
,
83
W
84
’
P O E MS
H ITT IE R s
.
Gon e gon e— s old and gone
To the ri ce s w amp d ank and lone
O h w hen w eary sad , and slow
From the fields at night th ey go ;
’
F aint w ith toil , and rack d w ith p ain
To th eir c h eerl ess homes aga in
There no b roth er s voi ce sh all greet th em
Th ere no father s w el com e m eet th em
G on e gon e— sol d and gone,
To the ri c e sw amp d ank and lon e
From Virgini a s hills and w aters
Woe is me my stol en d aughters !
,
,
-
-
.
,
,
,
,
’
’
.
,
-
,
’
,
,
Gone gone — s old and gone
To the ri ce s wamp d ank and l one
From the tree w hos e shad ow l ay
O n th eir Childhood s pl ac e of pl ay
Fromthe cool spring w h ere they drank
R ock and hill , and rivul et bank
From the s ol emn hous e of pra
y er
And the h oly couns els there
G one gone— s old and gon e
To the ri ce s w amp d an k and l one
From Virgini a s hills and w aters,
W oe is me, my stol en d aughters
,
,
-
,
’
"
,
,
,
,
-
,
’
Gone gone— sold and gone
To the ri c e s w amp d ank and l on e
Toiling through the w eary d ay,
And at night the S p oil er s prey
,
,
-
’
.
w nrr r rnns
’
'
'
POEM S
85
.
O h , th at th ey had earl ier di ed
S l eeping calm
l y sid e b y sid e
Wh ere the tyrant s pow er is o er,
And the fetter galls no more !
G one gon
e— s old an
d gon e
To the ri ce sw amp d ank and l one
d w aters
From Virgin
ia s hills an
W oe is me my stol en d aughters !
,
,
,
’
’
,
,
-
,
’
,
,
G on e gone— sold and gone
To the ri ce sw arrip d ank and lon e
B y the h oly love H e b eareth
B y the b ruis ed reed H e sp areth
O h may H e to w h om al one
All th eir cruel wr ongs are kn own
S till their h op e and r efu ge pr ove;
With a more than moth er s love
Gone gone —sold and gon e
To the ri ce s w amp d ank and lone
From Virgini a s hills and w aters
W oe is me my stol en d aughters
,
,
-
-
,
.
,
,
’
.
,
,
-
,
’
,
,
ADD R E SS
,
P
ENNSY L V A N IA HALL d edi cated to Free
Wri ttenfor the openi ng
depend ence, onthe 15 th of the 5ih
Di scu ssion, Virtu e, L i b erty, an
d In
of “
month
,
”
,
1 838 .
Nor w ith
Sp l endors of the d ays of old
”
“
The Spoil of n ations , an
b arb ari c gold
d
d from the fields of b l ood
N0 w eapons wres te
’
W here d ark and ster th unyielding R oman stood ,
And the proud Eagl es of his cohorts saw
A w orld war was ted crou ching to his l aw
N or blaz bnd car— nor b anners fl oati n
g ga y ,
Like th os e whi ch s w ept al ongthe Appi an way
When to the w el come of imp erial Ro me
The v i ct or w arri or came in triu mp h h om e,
And trump et-p e
al, and shou tings w ild and high
’
S tir d the b lu e qui et of th I tali ans k y ;
B u t cal m and gra teful , prayerfu l and sin
c er e
As Christi an freemen , only gath ering h ere
W e d edi cate ou r fair and lofty H all
P ill ar and arch entab l atu re and w all
’
—
As Virtu e s shrine as Lib erty s ab od e
’
S ac red to Freedom , and to Freedom s God !
'
the
,
n
-
,
,
,
’
,
,
,
,
_
’
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
’
O h ! loftier H alls neath b ri gh ter sk i e
s th an th es e
S tood d arkly mirror d in the E gean s eas
P ill ar and shrin e— and life li ke statu es s een ,
Graceful and pure, the m arb l e shafts b etw een ,
’
‘
,
,
’
,
-
86
w nr r r rnns
88
'
’
'
POEMS
.
A free arena for the strife of mind ,
To caste or s ect or c olor un c on
fined
S h all thr ill w ith echoe
s su ch as n e er of old
FromR om an H all or Grec i an Templ e roll d ;
Thou ghts shall find utteranc e su ch as n ev er yet
The ropyl ea or the F orummet
B eneath its r oof no gl adi ator s strife
S h all w inap pl aus es w ith the w a s te ofl ife ;
No lordly li ctor urge the barb aro u s game
No w anton L ais glory inher sh ame
B ut here the tear of symp athy shall flow
As the ear listens to the tal e of w oe ;
H ere in stemj udg ment of the opp res sor s wron
g
S hall strong reb u kings thrill on Freed oms tongu e
No p arti al j usti ce hold th un equ al s c al e
No p rid e of ca ste a b rother s rights ass ail
N o ty ra t s mand ates ech o fr om this w all ,
H oly to Freedom and the R ightsof All !
B ut a fair fi eld w h er e ind may cl os e w ith ml n
d
Free as the su nshine and the chai nl ess w ind ;
Wh ere the high trust is fix d onTruth al one
And b onds and fetters fromthe soul are throw n ;
W here w ealth and r ank and w orldly p omp and might
Yi eld to the pres enc e of the Tru e and R ight
,
,
,
’
,
’
,
P
,
.
’
.
,
’
,
,
’
’
’
n
’
m
,
,
’
,
fi
,
,
,
,
.
And fitti ng is it th at this Hall should stand
Wh ere P ennsyl vani a s F ound er l ed his b and
From thy b l u e w aters , D el aw are — to press
The virgin v erdure of the wild erness
H ere w h ere all E urop e w ith am az ement saw
The s ou l s high freed om tram
mel d b y no l aw ;
’
,
.
,
’
’
W
nrr r rE ns P O E M S
’
'
'
89
.
fi erce and warlike forest men
Gather d in p eace around the ho me of E NN ,
A w ed b y the w eapons L ove al one had given
Draiv nfr om the holy arm ory of H eaven ;
Where N ature s v oi ce agai nst the b ondman s w rong
First found anearnest and indignaht t ongue ;
W here L av s b old mess age to the proud w as home
’
And KE rr rr s reb uk e and FRANK L iNs m anly s c orn
Fitti ng it is that h ere w here Freedom first
From her fair feet sh ook offthe old w orld s dust
S pread her w hite pini ons to our W estern b l ast
And her free tress es to our sunshine cast
’
On
e H all sh ould ris e red eemd from S l avery s ban
One Temple s acred to the R ights of M an !
H ere
,
w h ere the
P
-
’
,
,
’
’
’
,
’
'
,
,
’
,
,
,
’
O h ! if the spirits of the p arted c ome,
Visiting angels to th eir old en home ;
If the d ead fathers of the l and l ook forth
Fr omth eir far d w ellings to the things of earth
Is it a d ream th at w ith th eir ey es of l ove
They ga z e now on u s fr omthe b ow ers ab ove ?
L AY s ard ent sou l— an
d B E NE Z E T the mild ,
S teadfast in faith yet gentl e as a child
M eek h earted WOO L M AN — and th at b r oth er b and
”
“
The sorrow ing exil es fr om th eir F ATH E R LAN D
L eaving their h omes in Krieshiems b o wers of v ine
And the b l u e b eau ty oftheir glori ous R hine
To s eek amid st our s ol emn d epths of w o od
Freed om from anand holy p eac e with God ;
W ho first of all th ei r: testimoni al gave
Against th oppressor — for the outcast sl ave
,
,
,
,
’
,
-
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,
,
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’
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,
m
’
g
,
,
8*
W
90
Is it
And
H ITT
PR
’
E
S
POEMS
.
dream th at such as these look d own
?
s cro w n
w ith th eir b l es sing our rej oicin
g
a
,
r ej oi c e th at w hil e theP ulpit s d ogr
IS b ar d against the pl ead ers for the p oor ;
Whil e the Church w ran gling upon p oints of faith
Forgets her b ond men Su fiering unto d eath
Whil e crafty Traffic and the l u st of G ai n
U nite to forg e O ppres si on s tripl e chal n
One do or is op en , and one Templ e free
A r esting pl ace for hunt ed Lib erty
Wh ere menmay sp eak u n sh ackl ed and unawed ,
H igh w ords of Truth , forFreedom and for God
’
L et us
,
,
’
,
,
‘
’
,
-
-
,
.
And w h en th at Truth its p erfect w ork hath d on e
And ri ch w i th b l essings o er our l and h ath gone ;
Wh en not a Sl ave b eneath his y ok e Sh all pine
Fr omb ro ad P otomac to the far S ab ine ;
Whenunt o angel lip s at l ast is gi ven
The silver tru mp of Jub il ee inH eav en ;
And from Virgini a s pl ains— Kentucky s Sh ad es
And through the dim Fl oridi an evergl ad es
R is es to meet th at angel tru p et s s ound
The v oi ce of milli on s from th eir ch ai ns unb ound
Th en though thi s Hall b e crumb ling in d ecay
Its str ong w alls b l ending w ith the c ommon cl ay ,
Y et round the ruins of its strength sh all stand
The b est and n ob l est of a ransomd l an d
P ilgrims like th ose w ho throng arou nd the Shrine
O f M ecca or of h oly P al estine
A pr ou d er gl ory sh all th at ruin ow n
Than th at whi ch lingers ro u nd the arth en on
,
’
,
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’
’
,
-
,
m
,
’
,
,
,
,
’
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,
P
.
W
’
POEMS
H ITTIE R S
91
.
H ere sh all the child of after y ears b e taught
The w ork of Freedom w hi ch his fath ers w rought
Told ofthe tri al s of the present h ou r
di ec and p ow er
Ou r w eary strife w ith prej u
H ow the high errand quiek en d w om an s soul
An
d tou ch d her lip as w ith the living co al
H ow Freed om s martyrs k ept th eir lofty faith
T ru e and unw avering unto b onds and death
The p en cil s art sh all s ketc h the ru ind H all
The M us es garl and cro wn its ag ed w all
And H istory s p enfor after times record
Its c ons ec ration unto FREE D O M S G00 !
,
,
’
’
,
’
’
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,
.
’
’
,
’
,
’
’
MIS CE L L A N E O US
TH E P o ems w hi ch
follow
ca us e of Emancip ati on ,
b ut
at the
c oll ection
are
h ave
—
P
O
E MS
not d ev oted to
been
request of some of
-
imp erfec t ;
noth er,
a
the
inc lud ed in this
the author
M any of th em, in th eir p ass ag e from
or s crap b ook to
.
had becom e
’
s fri ends
.
n n ew sp ap er
o e
mutil ated and
nd in some instanc es , ch anged from their
a
,
origi nal rhythm and s enti ment a s entirely a s
—
,
the
Palmer
of Marmron:
mother th at himbare
W ou ld not h ave k nownhe ch ild ”
The very
r
.
and th eir pub li cation in this form s eemed nec ess ary a s
a
m atter
of
s elf d efenc e
-
.
93
’
WH
96
ITTIE R S
POE MS
.
Th ere dow n from his mountains stern Zeb ul on cam e,
And N aphtal i s stag w ith his eye balls of flam e,
And the ch ariots of J ab in roll d h arml essly on
,
For the armof the Lord wa s Ab in oam s son!
,
’
-
,
’
’
Ther e sl eep the still ro ck s and the caverns whi ch rang
To the song w hi ch the b eautiful pr oph etess s ang,
Wh en the princes ofIss achar sto od b y her S id e
And the shout of a host in its triumph r epli ed
,
.
B ethl eh em s hill site b efore me is s een
With the m ountains around and the vall eys b etw een ;
Th ere r ested the shepherds ofJud ah and th ere
The song of the ang els r os e s w eet onthe air
L o,
’
-
,
,
,
i
“
And B eth any s p al mtrees in b eauty still thro w
Their shad ow s at n oon onthe rui ns b el ow ;
B u t w h ere are the sisters w ho h asten d to greet
?
The low ly R ed eemer and sit at H is feet
’
’
,
I tread w here the T WE LVE in th eir w ay faring trod ;
I stand w h ere they stood with the C H O SE N OF GOD
Where H is b l essi ng w ash eard and H is l ess ons w ere taught ,
Wh eretheb lind w ererestored and theh ealing w aswrought
-
.
O h h ere w ith H is fl ock the sad W and erer c ame
Thes e hills H e toil ed over in g ri ef are the s ame
ow
k b y the w ay sid e s till fl
The founts w h ere H e dr an
And the s ame airs are b l ow ing w hi ch b reathed on hisb row !
,
,
’
s-
,
And throned on her hills sits J erus al emyet
B ut w ith dust on her foreh ead and ch ains on
,
,
her feet ;
W
’
H ITTIE R S
POEMS
97
.
For the crow n of her prideto the mo ck er hath gone
And the holy S hec hinah is d ark w here it shon e
,
.
B ut w h erefore this dream of the earthly ab od e
O f H umanity clothed inthe b rightness of God
W eremy spirit b ut turned from the outward an
d dim ,
It could gaz e even now on the pres ence ofH im
.
,
,
Not in cl ouds and in terr o
rs b ut gentl e as wh en
In love and in meekn es s H e m oved among men;
And the v oi ce w hich b reath ed p eace to the w aves of the sea
Inthe hu sh O f my spirit w ould w hiSp er to me !
i
,
,
,
,
‘
‘
And w hat if my feet mayj n
ot tread w h er e H e stood
Nor my ears h ear the d ashing of Galil ee s fl ood
Nor my eyes see the cross w hich H e how d him to b ear
’
Nor my kn ees press G eths em ane s gard en ofprayer
,
’
,
’
.
Y et Loved
of the F ather Thy S pirit is near
To the meek and the l ow ly and p enitent here
And the voi ce of Thy l ove is the s am e even now
’
As at B ethany s tomb or on O li vet s b r ow
,
,
,
,
,
’
.
,
outw ard hath gon e — b ut in glory and power
The SP I R I T surviv eth the things of anho u r ;
Unchanged undecayi ng its entecoq fl ame
O n theh eart s s ecret al tar is b urning the same
Oh
,
the
,
,
,
’
P
,
,
P
C HRI S T IN TH E T EM E S T
.
S T ORM on the heav rng w ater s — The vast Sky
IS sto oping w ith its thund er
C l oud oncl ou d
Rolls h eav1 1y in the d arkn ess li k e a Shroud
S haken b y m
idnight s Angel from on high
Through the thi ck sea m ist faintl y and afar
C horaz ins w atch light glimmers li k e a star ,
And momently the ghastly cloud fires p l ay
O n the d ark sea w all of Cap ernau ms b ay,
And tow er and turr et into light Spri ng forth
Lik e sp ectr es s tarting from the storm sw epfearth ;
And vast and aw ful Tab or s mountain form
Its Titan for ehead naked to the storm
Tow ers for one i nstant full and cl ear and then
B l ends with the b l ackness and the cloud a gain
.
,
’
.
-
’
,
,
,
-
-
,
’
-
-
’
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
And it is y ery terrib l e — The roar
As c end eth u nto h eav en and thund ers back
Li ke the resp ons e of d emons fromthe b l ack
R ifts of the hanging t emp est— yaw ning o er
The w ild w aves in th eir t orm ent
H ark — the cry
O f str ong maninp eril pi ercing through
The upro ar of the w aters and the Sky
AS the r ent b ark one moment rid es to vi ew
O n the tall b illow s with the thu nd er cloud
Closing around ab ove her, lik e a shroud !
,
,
,
’
.
,
,
,
,
,
98
T H E F EM AL E M AR T YR
.
S IS T E R 0F CH AR T
di ed in one of ou r
aged 1 8 a
MAR Y G
Atl anti c citi es, du r i ng the preval ence of the IndianChol era, wh il e in
v ol u n
tary attend ance u ponthe si ck
“
,
I Y,
.
”
-
.
”
B R IN G out your d ead ! the midnight street
H eard and gav e b ack the ho ars e low c all ;
H arsh fell the tread ofh asty feet
Gl an ced through the d ark the c oars e white Sheet
H er coffin and her p all
”
Wh at— only one! The b rut al hack mansaid
’
As, w ith ano ath he spu rnd aw ay the d ea d
“
,
.
,
.
,
inmost hearts of all
As roll d th at d ead c art Slow l y b y
With creak ing w h eel and h arsh hooffall !
’
The dying tum d himto the w all
To h ear it and to d ie !
O nw ard it roll d ; w hil e oft its d ri ver stay d
“
And ho arsely cl amor d H o — b ring out you r d ea d
H ow
sunk
the
,
’
-
,
-
,
’
’
,
’
,
It p aus ed b esid e the b uri al pl ac e ;
“
T oss inyour lo ad — and it was done
With q u i ck h and and averted face
H astily to the grave s emb rac e
They cast th em one b y one
S tranger and friend— the evil and the j ust
Together trodd en in the church y ard d ust !
-
.
,
’
,
,
-
1 00
”
.
W
’
POEMS
HI TTIE R S
1 01
.
And thou young m artyr
thou w ast th ere
No white rob ed sisters round th ee trod
Nor holy hymn , nor funeral pray er
R o se thro ugh the d amp and noisome air
Giving thee to thy G od ;
Nor fl ow er, nor cross, nor hal low d tap er gav e
Grac e to the d ead , and b eauty to the grav e
-
,
-
,
’
gentl e Su fierer — there sh al l b e
Ine v ery h eart of k indly feeling
A rit e as h oly paid to th ee
As if beneath the convent tree
Thy Sisterhoo d were kneelin
g
At v esp er hours likeS Orrow ing angels keeping
Their tearful w
atch aro und thy pl ace of sl eeping
'
Y et,
,
,
-
,
,
,
’
n in w hom the light
O f H eaven s o wn l ove w as k indl ed w ell
E nduring w ith a m artyr s might
Thr ough w eary d ay and w akeful night
Far mor e th an w ords may tell
G entl e and meek and lo w ly and u nknow n
Thy merc i es m easured by thy God alone !
For thou w ast
o e
’
,
’
,
,
,
,
,
Where m anly h earts w ere failing — w h ere
The thron gful str eet gr ew foul with d eath
0 high sou l d m artyr — thou w ast th er e
Inh al ing from the loathsom e air
P oison w ith every b reath
Y et Shrink ing n
fi ces of dread
ot from of
For the wru ng dyi ng an
d the un con sci ou s d ead
,
,
’
,
,
.
,
9*
.
.
W
1 02
’
POEMS
H ITTIE R S
.
And w h ere the si ckly taper shed
Its l ight through vap ors d amp confined
H u sh d as a s eraph1s fell thy tread
A new E l ectra b y the b ed
O f suffering hum an k ind !
P ointing the spirit inits d ark dis may
To th at pure h op e w hi ch fad eth not aw ay
,
,
,
,
’
-
,
,
.
Innocent teach er of the high
And h oly mysteri es of H eaven
H ow turu d to th ee each gl az i n
g eye
In m u te and aw ful symp athy
AS thy low pray ers w ere gi ven ;
And the o er hoveri ng S poil er w ore the whil e
An angel s features — a d eli verer s smil e
’
,
,
"
’
-
,
,
’
’
A b l ess ed tas k — and w orthy one
W ho turning fr om the w orld as thou
E re b eing s p ath w ay had b egun
To l eav e its Spring tim e fl o w er and sun
H ad scal d her early v ow
Gi vi ng to God her b eauty and her youth
H er pure afl
s and her guil el ess truth
ection
“
,
,
,
’
-
,
’
,
‘
may not cl aim th ee
.
N othing here
C o uld b e for th ee a m eet rew ard ;
Thin e is a treas u re far more d ear
E ye h ath not s eenit nor the ear
O f living mortal h eard
The j oys prep ared — the promis ed b liss ab ov e
The holy pres en ce of E ternal L ove !
E arth
.
,
,
nou
R
“ K N OW E S I‘ 'r
'
E
A
T H E O DI N NC S or H
E A VE N? — J ob xxx v iii 33
”
.
LOOK unto h eaven !
The still and sol emn stars are b urning th ere
Li ke altars lighted in the up p er air
And to the w orship Of the great God gi ven
Wh ere the pur e Spirits of the unsinning d ead
Red eemd and s anctifi ed fromE arth might sh ed
The holiness of pr ayer
,
,
,
,
’
,
,
Lo ok ye ab ov e !
The E arth is glorious w ith its S umm er w reath ;
The t all trees b end with v erdur e ; an
d b en eath
Y oung fl ow ers are b lushing lik e u nwhisper d l ov e
Y et these w ill ch ange— E arth s glori es b e no mor e
And all her b loom and greenn ess fad e b efor e
The ministry of D eath
,
,
’
.
’
,
.
Then gaz e not th ere
G od s c onstant miracl e— the star wrought s k y
B ends o er ye lifting sil ently on high
AS w ith anAngel s h and the soul of prayer ;
And H eaven s ow nl angu age to the p u re of Earth
Written instars at N ature s mighty b irth
B urns on the ga z ing eye
.
’
-
’
,
,
’
,
’
,
’
,
.
1 04
.
W
POEMS
’
H ITTIE R S
1 05
.
O h ! turnye, then
An
d b end the knee of w or hip an
d the eyes
O f the pure stars Sh all s mil e with gl ad surpris e
At the d eep r everence of the sons ofmen
O h b end in w or ship til l thos e stars grow dim
And the s ki es vanish at the th ought of H im
Whos e light b eyond th em li es
,
s
,
,
.
,
,
,
H YM N
!F
R OM
TH E F
R EN CH
.
OF L
A MAR T INE )
.
N more 0 my lyre
r ais e to the God ab o ve
O f j oy and life and love
S w eepin
g its stri ngs of fire !
A
P
HY M
,
,
,
b ird and w ind
And s u nb eam s gl ance w ill l en
d to me
Th at s oaring up w ard I may find
M y resting pl aceand h ome in Thee
Thou w hommy sou l midst doub t and gl oom
am
e
Ad oreth w ith a fervent fl
M yst erious spirit ! u nto w hom
P ert ain nor Sign nor name !
Oh !
who the sp eed
of
’
,
,
,
-
,
,
S wiftly my lyre s soft murmurs go
Up from the c old and j oyl ess earth
B ack to the G od w ho b ad e th emflow
W hos e mo ving spiri t s ent th emforth
"
B u t as for me O God for m
e
The l owly creatur e of Thy w ill
Li ngering and sad I Sigh to Thee
An earth b oun d pilgrim still !
,
’
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
-
1 06
W
1 08
’
H ITTIE R S
POEMS
.
my l onging a rms
The pro mis e b ough of k i ndli er S k i es
l u ck d from the green immortal p al ms
?
Whi ch sh ad ow P aradis e
To hear w ithin
P
-
,
’
,
All moving S pirit
freely forth
At Thy command the str ong w ind goes
Its errand tothe p assi ve earth
Nor art canstay nor strength Opp os e
U ntil it folds its w eary w ing
O nce mor e w ithin the h and divine ;
S O W eary fromits wand ering
M y spirit t u rns to Thi ne !
-
-
,
,
,
,
,
C hild ofthe sea the mountain stream
Fr omits d ar
k cav erns hurri es on
C eas el ess b y night and morni ng s b eam,
B y evening s star and n oontid e s su n
Until at l ast it si nk s to r est
O erw earied inthe w aiting sea
And mo ans up on its moth er s b reast s
S o turns my s ou l to Thee
,
,
,
,
’
,
’
’
,
,
’
,
,
’
-
Thou who b id st the torr ent flow
W ho l end est w i n
gs unt o the w ind
M ov er of all things w h ere art Thou
O h w hith er Shall I go to find
The s ecret of Thy r esti ng pl ace
Is th er e no holy W ing for me
That so aring I may search the sp ace
O f high est H eaven for Thee
’
0
,
,
,
,
,
w nrr mnns
'
’
'
POEMS
.
I w ere as free to ris e
AS l eaves onAutu mns w hirl w ind ho me
The arro w y l ight of sun set s k i es
O r sOu nd or ray or s tar Ofmorn
Which m elts in heaven at tw ilight s cl os e,
O r aught w hi ch s oars u ncheck d and free
Throu gh E arth an
might los e
d H eaven ;
M ys el f in finding Th ee !
Oh
,
w ould
’
,
,
,
’
’
10
1 09
~
F
R OM
TH E F
REN CH
OF L
A MAR T INE
.
WH E N the B RE AT H D IVINE is fl ow ing,
Zephyr lik e o er all things goi ng
And as the tou c h ofv i ew l ess fingers ,
ftly on my soul it li ngers,
SO
O pen to a b reath the lightest ,
C ons cious Of a touch the slightest
As some calm still l ak e, w h ereon
S ink s the snow y b osomd s wan ,
And the glistening w ater ri ngs
C ircl e ro u nd her m ovi ng w ings
’
-
,
,
’
-
,
-
When my up w ard gaz e is turning
Where the stars of heaven are b urning
Thr ough the d eep and d ark ab yss
F l ow ers of midnight s w ild erness
B low ing w ith the evening s b reath
S w eetl yintheir M ak er s p ath :
’
,
’
’
Whenthe b reak i ng d ay is fl ushing
All the E ast and light is gushin
g
Up w ard through the hori z on s h az e,
S heaf lik e w ith its th ousand r ays
S preading until all ab ove
ow s w ith j oy an
Ov erfl
d lo ve,
And b el ow onearth s green b osom ,
d b lossom :
Al l is ch anged to light an
,
’
-
,
,
’
,
W h en my
an ci es o ver
f
g
Forms of b rightness fl it and hover ,
w ak in
l lO
TH E FAM ILI ST S H Y M N
’
ilg i m
P
.
l and evenin th ei r wi ld erness home
ten
ti ons whi ch a itated the
ot ex em
were n
p ted f om the sectari ancon
mother cou ntry after the downfall of C harl es the First and of the estab
d Catholi cs were ban
i hed
l ished E p iscopacy The Qu ak ers B aptists an
y One S amu el Gorton
onpai nof d eath f
romthe Massachusett
s C ol on
e in B o ton
er after preach i n
a bold an
t d ecl ai m
d el oq en
g fo a ti m
ritans a n
d d ecl ari n
st the d octri n
es of the P
agai n
g th at th eir ch rch es
d th ei r sac am
en
t and b ap tismanabomi na
were mere h um
and evi cesan
ti on was drivenout of the state s j ri sdiction and comp ell ed to seek a
resid ence among the savages H e gath ered ro nd him a consid e bl e
numb er of converts who li k e the pr i mi tiv e Christians sh ared al l th i ngs
e to the l eadi n
incom
mon H is opi ni ons however were so iro b l esom
g
cl ergy of the Col on
y th at they i nstigated anattack pon his “ Family
by anarmed force wh i ch sei ed u ponthe pri ncipal meninit and brought
th emi nto Massachusetts where th ey were sentenced to b e k ept at h ard
l abor insever l towns ! one onl y ineach town) d ri ng the pl eas re Of
the Gen
eral Cou rt th ey b ei n
d er seve e p enal ti es to u tter
g fo b idd enu n
an
ti m
i nisters as might l abor
en
ts ex cept to such m
y of thei r religi ous sen
for their con
versi on T hey we e u nq estion b l y si ncere inth ei opi ni ons
an
d whatev er m
ay h av e b eenth ei r er ors d eser v e to b e ran
ked among
those who h av e inal l ages s fiered for the f eedomof consci ence
TH E
“
”
s
of
r
New
En
g
,
,
g
r
‘
,
s
,
,
.
u
-
,
.
,
s
r
,
u
,
,
u
,
‘
r
,
’
u
,
,
u
.
,
ra
,
,
.
,
u
,
,
z
,
,
a
”
u
,
.
u
,
r
,
u
r
,
.
r
,
a
u
r
,
r
,
,
‘
u
r
.
F A T H ER ! to thy suffering poor
S tren gth and grace and faith i mp art
And w ith Thy ow nl ove restore
C omfort to the b r oken h eart
O h the faili ng on es confirm
With a holi er strength of z eal !
Giv e Thou not the feeb l e w orm
H elpl ess to the S p oil er s h eel
,
,
’
1 12
’
W HITTIE R
S
POEMS
1 13
.
F ath er ! for Thy h oly s ak e
W e are Sp oil d and hunted thus
Joyfu l for Thy truth w e take
B onds and b urth ens unto u s :
P o or and W eak and rob d oil all
W eary with our d aily tas k
That Thy truth may never fall
Through our w eakness , Lord w e ask
’
,
’
,
,
,
,
.
,
R ound our fired and wasted homes
Flits the forest b ird uns cared
And at noon the w i ld b ea st co mes
Wh ere ou r frugal m eal w asSh ared ;
For the song ofp r
ais es th ere
S hriek s the crow the livel ong d ay
For the s ound of eve ing pray er
How ls the evil b east of prey
-
,
,
,
n
,
S w eet the s ongs w e loved to s ing
Und erneath Thy holy sky
Word s and tones that us ed to b r
ing
Tears of j oy in every eye
Dea r the w restling hours ofprayer
Wh en w e gather d knee to knee
B l amel ess y ou th and h oary hair
B ow d O God al one to Th ee
‘
‘
,
,
’
,
,
’
.
,
,
As Thine earl y
hildren Lord
S h ar ed th eir w ealth and d aily b read
E v enso w ith oneaccord ,
W e inl ove each other fed
c
,
,
,
,
.
,
*
10
,
1 14
W
POE MS
’
H ITTIE R S
.
’
Not w ith us the mis er s ho ard
Not w ith us his gr asping hand
E qu al round a c ommon b oard
D rew our meek and b rother b and
,
,
,
S afe our qu i et E d en l ay
When the w ar w h oop stir d the l an
d
And the Indi an turnd aw ay
From our hom e his b loody hand
W ell that forest r anger saw
That the b urth en and the curs e
O f the white mans cru el l aw
Rested also upon us
’
-
’
.
-
,
’
,
.
Torn ap art and driven forth
To ou r t oiling h ard and l ong ,
F ath er ! fr om the dust of earth
Lift w e still our gra teful s ong !
Grateful— that in b onds we share
InThy l ove y hich m ak eth free
J oyfu l— that the wrong s w e b ear
D raw us nearer Lord to Thee !
,
,
,
,
Gratefu l — th at w h ere er w e toil
B y W achus et s w ood ed si de
O n N antucket s sea w orn isl e
O r b y w ild N ep ons et s ti de
S till inspirit w e are n ear ,
And our evening hymns w hi ch ris e
S ep arate and di scord ant h ere
M eet and mi ngl e in
the sk i es
’
,
’
,
’
-
,
’
,
,
,
,
T H E CAL L O F T H E C H RI S TIAN
.
NOT al w ays
as the
w hirl wind
mou nt of fear
’
s r u sh
'
On
H oreb
’
s
,
Not al w ays as the b urning bu sh
’
TO Midians sh eph erd s eer,
Nor a s the aw ful v oice whi ch c am e
’
To Israel s pr oph et b ard s ,
Nor as the t ongu es of cl ov en fl am e
Nor gift of fearful w ords
,
Not aIways thus w ith outw ard Sign
O f fire or v oi ce fr om H eav en
The m ess age ofa tr u th div in e
The c all of God is gi ven!
Aw aking in the hu man heart
L ove for the T RUE and R I GH T
”
“
Zeal for the Ch ri sti ans b etter p art
S trength for the Chri sti an s fight
,
,
’
,
’
.
Nor unto manh ood s h eart alone
The h oly infl u en ce steals :
W arm with a raptur e not its ow n
The h eart of W OM AN feels !
AS she w ho b y S amari a s w all
The S avi ou r s errand sou ght
As thos e w ho w ith the fervent P au l
And meek Aquil a w r ought :
’
,
‘
’
’
l 16
W
’
H IT T IE R S
POEMS
1 17
.
O r thos e m eek ones w hos e marty rdom
R ome s gather d grandeur saw :
O r those w ho in their Al pin e ho me
B raved the Cr u sad er s w ar
When the green Vau d ois tremb ling h eard
Thr ough all its val es of d eath
The m artyr s song of triu mph p ou r d
From w oman s faill ng b reath
’
’
’
,
,
,
,
’
’
’
.
O h gently b y a th ou s and things
Whi ch o er our spirits p ass
Li ke b reez es o er the h arp s fine strings
O r vapors o er a gl as s
L eaving their t okenstrange and new
O f mu sic or of Sh ad e
I GH T an
The sum mons to the R
d T RUE
And MERCI FUL is mad e
,
,
’
,
’
’
’
,
'
,
.
O h th en if gl eams of Tru th and Light
Fl ash o er the w aiting mi nd
Unfolding to ou r mental sight
The w ants of human k i nd ;
If b rooding o ver h uman gri ef
The earnest wish is know n
TO soothe and gl add en w ith r eli ef
An anguish not our ow n:
,
,
’
,
,
,
Though herald ed w ith n ought Of fear
O r outw ard Sign or Sh ow ;
Though only to the inw ard ear
It w hisp ers s oft and l ow ;
,
,
,
,
1 18
W
’
H ITTIE R S
POEMS
.
Though dropping as the m ann a fell
Unseen— yet from ab ove
H oly and gentl e— h eed it w ell !
The c all to T RUT H and L O V E !
,
,
W
120
’
H IT T IE R S
POEMS
.
—
—
—
t
m
h
c
om
s
o
e
s
rost
S
pirit
c
om
s
and the
h
e
c
e
e
He
eF
quiet l ak e sh all feel
d ring to the
The torpid tou ch of his gl az ing b reath , an
s ka ter s h eel
And the streams w hich d anced on the b roken ro ck s or
s ang to the l eaning grass
S h all b ow again to th eir w inter ch ain, and in mournful
sil en c e p a ss
’
,
,
.
c om es— b e c om es— the Frost S pirit c omes -let us
m eet him as w e may,
And turn w ith the light of the p arlor fire his evil p ow er
aw ay ;
And gath er clos er the c ircl e round w h en th at firelight
d an ces high
And l augh at the shri ek ofthe baffl
ed Fi end as his sound
ing
go
e
s
b
y
!
in
w
g
He
‘
“
-
,
,
T H E W OR S H IP O F NATUR E
.
h ath b eene as it were esp eci all y rend ered u nto mee and mad e
pl ai ne and l egi bl e to my u nd erstand ynge that a great worshipp is goi ng
“
'
It
namong the thyngs of God
o
”
.
Gral t
.
up to H eaven
’
As t w er e a living thi ng
The h om age of its w aves is given
In c eas el ess w orshipping
TH E O cean look eth
,
,
.
Th ey kn eel up on the sl oping s and
As b ends the hu man knee
A b eautiful and tirel ess b and
The P ri estho od of the S ea !
,
,
,
They pour the glittering treasures out
Whi ch in the d eep hav eb irth,
And ch ant th eir aw fu l hymns ab out
The w atching hills ofearth
.
The green
rth s ends its in cens e up
Fromevery mou ntai nshrin e
Fro mev ery fl ow er and d ew y cu p
Th at greeteth the sunshine
ea
,
.
li fted from the rills
Lik e the w hite w i ng of pray er
They l eanab ove the an ci ent hills
As d oi ng h omage th ere
The mists
are
,
.
11
121
W
1 22
’
H I TT IE R S
POEMS
.
The forest t ops are l ow ly cast
’
O er b reez y hill and glen ,
’
As if a pr ayerful spirit pass d
O n N ature a s on men
.
The clouds w eep
’
o er
the
n
fall e w orld
nas rep entant love ;
’
fu rl d
E re to the b l ess ed b reez e u n
They fad e in light ab ove
E
’
e
.
The sky is as a templ e s arch ,
The b l u e an
d w avy air
’
Is gl ori ous w ith the Spiri t mar c h
O f m ess engers of pray er
-
.
The g entl e moon— the k i ndling
su
n
stars are given
As shrines to b urn earth s incens e ou
The altar fi
res of H eav en !
The m any
,
’
-
WH
1 24
’
POE MS
IT T IE R S
.
For each
unw el com e b low m ay b reak
P erch ance some ch ain w hi ch b inds us h ere ;
And clouds around the h eart may make
The vision of ou r F aith more cl ear ;
As through the shado w y veil of even
The eye l ook s farth est i nto H eav en
O n gl eams of star and depths ofb lu e
The ferv i d su nshIne n ever knew !
,
,
,
The p arted
pirit
s
oweth it n
ot ou r sorrow
Kn
Its b
l essi ng
t r
,
A nswereth not
”
r
e
a
to ou
s2
’
The c ircl e is b roken— one s eat is fors ak en ,
On
e b ud from the tr ee of our fri endship is sh ak en
On
o long er sh all thrill
e h eart from among us n
With
the
spirit of gl adness or d ark en
,
w ith
ill
.
W eep — Lonel y and lo w ly , are Slumb eri ng now
The light of her gl an
c es the prid e of her b ro w
W eep ! 4 S adly and long sh all w e li sten in vain
To h ear the soft tones of her w el c om e again
,
.
-
.
’
G i ve our tears to the d ead !
For hum anity s cl aim
From its Sil en c e and d ark ness is ev er the s ame
The hop e of th a t World whos e ex isten c e is b liss
May not sti fle the tears of the mourn ers of this
.
For oh ! if one gl an c ethe freed spirit canthrow
O n the s c ene of its troub l ed proba tion b el ow
Than the prid e of the m arb l e— the pomp of the d ead
To that gl an
c e will b e d earer the t ears w hi ch w e sh ed
,
,
—
.
W HI T T I E R
S POEMS
125
.
O h , who canforget the ri ch light of her smil e
O ver lips moved w ith mu si c and feeling the w hil e
The eye s d eep ench antment d ark dreamlike and cl ear
In the glow of its gl adness— the Sh ad e Ofits tear
,
’
-
,
,
,
.
P
the ch arm
of her feature s whil e over the whol e
lay d thehu es of the h eart an
d the s u nshine of soul
And the tones of her voi ce li ke the music w hi ch s eems
Mu rmu r d l ow in our cars b y the Angel of dreams
And
,
’
,
,
’
B ut holi er and d earer our memori es h old
Those treasures of feeling more preci ou s th an gold
The l ove an
d the k ind ness — the pity w hi ch ga ve
Fresh hop es to the li ving and wr eaths for the grave
,
,
The h eart ever Op en to Charity s cl ai m,
’
U nm oved from its purp os e b y cens u re and b l am e
Whil e vainly alike on her eye and her ear
F ell the s corn of the h eartl ess the j esti ng an
d j eer
,
,
.
For th ough Spotl ess h ers elf she cou ld sorrow for them
Who sulli ed w ith evil the Spirit s pure gem;
And a sigh or a tear cou ld the erri ng reprove
And the stingof reproof w as still temp er d b y love
,
,
’
,
’
.
l ud ofthe suns et l w melti ng in h eaven
As a star th at is l ost w henthe d ay light is gi ven
As a gl ad drea of slumb er w hi ch w ak ens Inb liss
She hath p ass d to the w orld of the holy fr omthis
As
a c o
,
,
m
-
,
,
’
.
11
’
,
,
W
1 26
’
H ITT IE R S
P O E M S.
s w eet asthe flow rets th at b l oom
From her l a st lon ely d welling— the dust of her tomb
The ch armOf her v irtu es aS H eav enS ownb reath
S h all ris e lik e anincens e from d arkness and d eath
S he hath p ass d — b u t, Oh !
’
'
,
’
,
.
W
128
’
POEMS
H ITTIE R S
.
’
Her gather d thou s ands ; and h e r vic tims l ay
N ake d ben ea th th e b r aze n arc h ofh eave n
O n th e staind R o ck o f S ac rifi ce Th e su n
Went do w n his h ea te d p a thwa y with a slo w
And w eary p rogr e ss a s h e l ov e d to ga z e
Onth e d ark horror o f his b u rning noon
Th e s ac rifi ce o f Inno ce nce for G u ilt
W hos e b lood had se nt its sl ee pl e ss m u rm u r u p
To th e Ave nger s ear u ntil fi erce wra th
B u rnd o v e r ea rth and heav e n and Ve ngean ce h e ld
Th e aw fu l m a ste ry of th e e l e m e nts
,
’
.
,
,
’
,
’
,
.
W ho steal e th from th e c ity i n th e garb
W hi ch toke ns th e h eart s sorro w and whi ch s eems
Arou nd her wa ste d form to sh a do w forth
Th e v i s itation o f d ark gri e f w ithin
L o — sh e h ath p ass d th e vall e y and h er foot
Is on th e R o ck of S acrifice— and now
S h e stoop e th over th e u nb u ri e d d ea d
And move s h er lip b u t sp eak s not It is strange
And v e ry fearfu l ! The d e s ce nding su n
Is p au sing li ke a fire w ing d Ange l on
Th e bare hills o f th e W e s t and fi e rce a nd r e d
H is l a st rays fall a sl ant th e pl ace o f b lood
C oloring its d ark sta ins d ee p e r L o ! she kn eels
To c over w ith a tre mb ling h and th e c old
And gh a stly w o rk of Death — thos e d e s ecrate
And d arkend te mpl e s o f the li ving so u l !
,
’
,
’
,
,
.
,
’
-
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
’
He r ta sk wa s finish d ; and she we nt a way
A littl e distan ce and a s ni ght stol e on
’
,
,
W
H I T T rE
P
OEMS
ns
’
1 29
.
W ith dim star light and sh a do w sh e sat d ow n
Upon a j u tting fra gm e nt of th e ro ck
Th e r e d glo w
A solitary wa tc h e r
Th at wr e stl e d w ith th e d ark n e ss and s e nt u p
Its sp e ar li ke lin e s of light u ntil th e y wan e d
Into the d ark b l u e ze nith pass d away
And from th e b ro a d and shad ow d We st th e stars
S hon e throu gh s ub stanti al b l ackn e ss M id night came;
Th e w ind wa s gro aning on the hill s and th ro u gh
The n ake d b r an ch e s of th eir p erishing tree s
And strange sou nds b l e nde d w ith it Th e ga u nt w olf
S centing the pl ace of sl au gh te r with his long
And most ofiensiv e ho wl did ask for b lood ;
And th e hy en a sat u pon th e c liff
H isred e y e glo wing te rrib ly ; and lo w
B u t fre q u ent and most fea rful ly his gro wl
C am e to the wa tch er s ear Al one she sat
Unmo ving a s her re sting p l ace ofrock
F ear for hers elf she felt not— every ti e
Tha t once too k hold onlife w ith au ght of lo ve
Was b roke n u tterly He r e y e w as fix d
S tony and motionl e ss u p on th e p all
Whi ch v eil d h er p rin cely d ead And this was lo ve
In its s u rp a ssing p ow er— y ea lo ve as strong
As th a t w hi ch b inds the p eop l ed Uni ve rse
And p u re as ange l w orshi p w hen the j u st
An
d beau tiful of Heave n are ho w d in pr ay e r !
-
,
.
,
-
’
,
,
’
‘
,
,
.
,
.
,
,
'
,
,
,
’
.
,
-
.
’
.
,
,
’
.
,
,
fi
-
,
’
Th e night stol e into morning and th e su n
Red and u nwe l c om e r ose w ithou t a cl ou d
And th er e w as R i z p ah still w oe w orn and p al e ;
,
,
,
,
,
-
1 30
W
’
H ITTIER S
POEMS
.
And y e t in h e r d ark e y e and d arker h air
And in th e m a rb l e and u plifte d b ro w ,
And th e m u c h wa ste d fig ure might b e s ee n
A wreck of p e rfec t beau ty s u c h a s b ow d
Th e thron e d on e ofIsrae l at her fee t
L o w a s th e trampl e d P hilistin e h ad kn e lt
B e fo re his m ail e d pr e s en ce N ot a t ear
Gl istend on e y e or c h eek b u t still she ga z e d
O n th e d ark ve il of s ackcloth w ith a stra ng e
And fix e d earn e stn e ss Th e sk y a gain
Red d end w ith h eat and th e u n
moistend earth
W as like th e a sh e n s u rface of th e hu sh d
B u t p e rilo u s v ol cano
R i z p ah b o re
Th e feve r of th e noon tim e w ith a ste rn
And awfu l s ense of d u ty n
e rving h e r
In her d ev ote dne ss S h e might not l eave
Th e high pl ace of h er w atching for th e sh ad e
O f cl u ster d p alm tree s ; an
d the lofty ro ck s
C a sting th e ir grim and gi ant sh a dow s dow n
M ight not afford h er sh e l te r ; for th e s wee p
O f h eavy wings went overhe r lik e c lou ds
C rossing th e s u nshin e and most ev il b irds
Dark a d ob s cen e — th e j a gu ars of th e air
F rom all th e hills h a d gather d F ar and shy
Th e somb re r aven sat u p on his ro ck
And his v il e m a te did mo ck him Th e va st w ing
O f th e great ea gl e stooping from th e su n,
W innow d th e cl ifls ab ove her !
Day b y d ay
B en ea th th e s c or c hing of th e u nv eil d su n,
And th e u nwee ping solitu d e ofnight
,
,
’
,
,
.
’
,
.
’
’
,
’
.
-
,
,
.
’
-
,
,
n
,
,
,
’
.
,
.
,
’
‘
,
’
,
T H E C ITI ES OF T H E P L AI N
.
AWAY from th e ruin — O h h u rry y e on
W hil e th e s w ord O f th e Angel y e t sl umb ers u ndr aw n
A way from th e d oomd and d e s e rte d of God
”
Away for th e S p oil er is r u shing ab ro ad !
“
,
,
’
,
Th e warning wa s sp oke n— th e righte ou s h a d gon e ,
And th e prou d on e s O f S odom were fea sting al on e ;
All gay w as th e banqu e t— th e r eve l w as long
W ith th e p o u ring ofwin e and th e b reathing of song
,
.
,
Twa s aneve ning O f bea u ty Th e air wa s p erfum e
Th e earth w as all greenn e ss the tree s we r e all b loom ;
An
d softly th e d eli cat e viol wa s h eard
Li ke th e mu rm u r of lo ve or th e no te s of a b ird
’
,
.
,
,
.
And beau tifu l c r eatu re s mo ve d dow n in th e d an ce
W ith th e m a gi c of motion and s unshin e of gl ance ;
And w hite arms w reath d lightly and tr e ss e s fe ll free
AS th e pl u m a ge of b irds insom e tropi ca l tr ee
,
’
,
,
.
And th e S hrin e of th e idol wa s lighte d onhigh
For the bending of k ee and th e hom a ge of e y e ;
And th e w orship wa s b l end e d with b l a sph emy s w ord
’
An
d th e w in e b ibbe r scofi d a t th e n am e O f th e Lo rd
n
,
’
-
1 32
,
W
P O E MS
’
H ITT I E R S
1 33
.
Hark ! th e grow l ofth e thu nd e r— th e qu aking of earth !
W oe— W oe to th e w orship and w o e to the mirth !
i
—
Th e b l ack sky has op end th er e s flam e in th e air
The re d arm ofvengean
ce is lifted and b ar e
’
,
’
And th e shriek ofthe dying ro se wild w here th e song
And th e l ow ton e of love had bee n W hisper3d along ;
For th e fi e rce flam e s we nt lightly o e r pal ace and b o we r
Li ke the re d tongu e s of d e mons to b l ast and dev o u r
’
,
D ow n— d o wn onthe fall en th e re d ru in rain d
And th e r evell e r s a nk with his win e cu p iin
draind
The foot of th e d an ce r th e m u si c s l ove d thrill
And th e Sho u t and th e l au ghte r grew s u dd enly still
’
,
,
’
-
’
,
,
.
Th e last throb of anguishw as fearfu lly given ;
Th e l a st ey e gl ar e d forth in its m a dn e ss onHeaven !
The l a st gro anof horror ros e widly and vain
And d e ath b ro od ed over th e prid e ofth e l ain !
fl
P
'
,
12
,
THE C R UC IFIX I ON
.
pon Ju d ea s hill s !
An
d onthe wave s of G al il ee
OnJ ord ans str e a
mand onthe rills
Th a t ga th er to th e slee ping s ea !
Mo s t fre shly from the greenw ood Springs
Th e light b ree z e onits sce nt e d W in gs ;
And gaily q u iver in th e su n
Th e ced ar tops of L ebanon !
S UN L IGH T
-
’
u
’
'
‘
'
_
A few mor e ho u r s— a c h ang e h a th c ome
Dark a s a b rooding thu nd e r c lo u d !
Th e shou ts of wr ath and j oy are d u mb ,
And pro u d k n ee s u nto E arth ar e ho w d
A ch ange is onthe hill of Death ,
Th e h elm e d w atc h ers p ant for b reath
And tu rn with w ild and m ani ac e y e s
F rom th e d ark s cen e ofsacrifice !
‘
-
’
.
,
'
Th a t S ac rifice — th e d ea th of H im
Th e H igh and ever H oly O n e !
W ell maythe c ons c io us Heave n grow dim
And b l acke n the beholding S u n!
Th e W ont e d light h ath fled awa y
N ight Se ttl e s onth e middl e d ay
’
And E arthqu ake from his cav ernd be d
IS waking with a thrill of drea d !
,
,
1 34
,
T H E CIT Y OF RE FU G E
h u a h ap te
J os
r x x
, c
.
.
AWAY from thy p e opl e thori Sh e d der ofb lood
Away to th e r e fu ge appoint e d Of G od
N ay p au s e not to look for thy hou s eh ol d or k in ,
For Dea th is behind th ee , tho uW orke r of S in
“
,
,
‘
.
Awa y — look not back thou gh th at sorro w fu l one
The moth e r w ho b or e th ee sh all w a il for her son ;
Nor stay w h e n thy wife as a beau tifu l b los som
S h all c l a sp thy fair c hild to h er d e sol ate b osom
“
,
,
,
,
,
.
“
Away w ith thy face to th e r e fu ge a far
— inth e e y e ef th e sta r ;
In th e glo w of th e su n
Th ou gh th e S imoom b rea th e O e r thee , O ppre s si ve and
warm
R e st not b y the fo u nta in nOr u nd e r the p alm
,
-
_
’
-
,
.
Away for th e kinsm an O f him thou hast sl ain
Ha s b reathe d onthy h ea d thed ark c u rse s O f C ain;
Th e c ry of his v engean ce Sh all follo w thy p a th
”
Th e tramp of his footstep , th e shou t of his w rath
“
'
‘
‘
.
And th e S l ay e r sprang up a s th e warning w as s aid
And the ston e s of th e altar r ang ou t to his tread ;
Th e wail of his hou s ehold wa s lost on his ear
H e Spoke not h e p au se d not , h e tu ru d not to h ear
,
’
,
1 36
.
w
nrr r rE a s P O E M S
’
1 37
.
’
—
He fl
ot b ack
ed to th e d e s e rt he t uru d himn
W h e n th e ru sh of th e s and storm grew lo u d in his track
Nor p au s e d till his v ision fell grate fu l and gl ad
O n th e gree n hills of G il ea d— the whi te te nts of Gad
-
,
,
,
.
O h th is wh en th e c rime s and th e errors of E arth
Have d ri ven h er childre n as wand erers forth
To th e ho w d and the b roke n of S pi rit is gi ve n
The hope of a re fu g e— th e r e fu ge O f H eave n !
,
,
,
’
12*
I S AB E L L A OF AU STR IA
.
a an
sort of J sep h ofAust i a p redi c ted
I b l I nfanta ofP
d con
arm
o
he ownd eath i m
medi atel y afte he maié iage wi th the E mp e o Amidst
d Sp l en
do of Vi enna and P
e b
g she was ese ved and
the g ai ety an
melancholy ; she b eli eved that Heavenhad givenher a vi ew of the fu
tu re an
d that her child the n
am
esake ofthe great Mari a Th eresa wou l d
l l ed
p eri sh wi th her H er p red i cti onwas ful fi
“ s
a e l a,
r
,
,
‘
r
r
,
r
r
r
r r
.
r s ur ,
r
r
'
,
,
,
”
.
.
M IDS T th e p al ace b owe rs of H ung ary ; i mp eri al P re s
b u rg s prid e
W ith th e nob l e b o rnand beau tiful a ss e mb l e d a t her sid e
S h e stood b en eath th e s u mm er h eave
n th e soft w inds
S ighing on
S tir ring the gr ee n and arching b ou ghs like d an cers in the
‘
-
,
-
’
,
-
,
-
,
,
,
,
n
’
Th e beau tifu l p om e gra nat e s gold , th e snow y orange-b loom
’
Th e lotu s and th e c r eeping vin e , th e ros e s m eek p erfu m e
Th e w illo w c rossing w ith its gree n som e statué s m arb l e
h ai r
’
All th at might ch arm th ex qu isite sens e , or light th e
sou l , w as there
su
.
,
,
’
,
‘
.
r
’
—
s tr ea su re d One l eau d
mon arch
gloomily ap art
W ith her d ark e ye t earfu lly ca st dow n and a sh ado w on
h e r h eart
Y o u ng ,beau tifu l and d early l ove d Wh a t sorro w h ath
she kn
Ow n!
Ar e not th e h earts and s wo rds ofall h e ld s acre d a s h e r M m?
B u t Sh e—
’
a
,
'
'
-
.
’
,
,
'
1 38
w nr r r rs ns
1 40
'
'
n
POEMS
'
.
n w hos e mighty nam e I bear,
And c los e r to my b u rsting h eart his h allow d im ag e wear ;
And I cou ld w atc h our s wee t you n g fl ower , u nfo l d ing
d ay b y d ay ,
And ta ste of th at u nearthly b liss which moth ers Only m ay ;
Bu
t no I m a y not cling to earth — th a t v eice i s l nmy ear,
Th at sh a do w l inge rs b y my S ide — th e d eath wail and th e
b i er
Th e c old and starl e ss night ofd eath where d ay m ay neve i
beam ,
Th e sil en ce and th e lo athsom en
e ss , th e sl eep whi ch h ath
no dream !
“A
d I c o u ld lo ve th e nob l e
o e
’
*
,
-
,
>
O G od ! to leave this fa ir b right w orld , and mor e th an
all to k no w
Th e mom e nt wh e n the S p ec tral O n e sh all d eal his fearfu l
b lo w ;
TO k now th e d ay th e ve ry hou r ; to fee l th e tid eroll on ;
To Shu dd er at th e gloom be for e an
d wee p th e s u nshin e
gon e ;
To c o u nt th e d ays the few short d ays , of light and life
and b reath
B e tween m e a d the noisom e gr ave— thev oi ce l e ss ho m
e
of d eath ,
Al a s — if know ing fee ling this I m u rm u r a t my doom
L e t not thy frowning O my G od ! l e nd d arkn e ss to the
tomb
,
,
4
.
,
-
,
,
n
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
O h I h ave b orn e my S pirit u p and smil e d amid th e chill
R e m e mb r ance ofmy ce rtain do om , whi c h lingers with m e
still ;
“
,
,
w nr r r rs ns Eo s M s
'
’
'
1 41
.
I w o ul d not c lo u d
‘
Ou r
fair c hild s b ro w , norlet a tear d rop
’
-
Th e ey e th a t m e t my wed d e d lord s l e st it sho ul d s add e n
’
,
B u t th e re
ar e mom ents wh e
n th e gu sh
of
feeling h a th its
r u nn ame d w oe nor fear
Th at hidd e n tid e a
m
S ile on, smil e
or
n, light hearted On e s , y our
‘
o
su
-
high ;
S mil e on and l eav e th e
”
and di e
,
nl
d oomd
’
of
n
h
'
ov e
may
nof j oy
Heave n a lon e
to
is
w ee p
.
it
w
%
I
= =
1
A fu neral ch ant w as wailing throu gh Vi e nn a s holy pil e ;
’
fl
inw ith
its
gorge ou s pail wa s b orn e along th e aisl e ;
The bann e rs of a kingly race w av e d high ab o ve the d ea d ;
A mighty band of mourn ers came— a k ing wa s a t its h ea d
A y ou thful king w ith mo u rnfu l trea d and dim and tearfu l
A
co
,
,
eye
h a d not dreamd th at one so p u r e as his fair b rid e
c o uld di e ;
And sad and w ild ab o ve th e throng th e fu n eral anth e m r ung :
M ou rn for th e hop e of Au stri a , mou rn for th e love d and
’
o
u ng !3
y
He
’
'
Th e w ail went u p from oth er l ands— th e vallies of th e H u n
d hill s ofvin e and su n
F air P arm a with its orange b o wers an
;
The lili e s ofi mp e ri al F ran ce d roop d as th e sou nd we nt b y
The lon
g l am ent of cl oister d S p ain w as min gl e d w ith th e
c ry ;
fi
,
’
,
’
W
1 42
P
OEM
’
H ITTIE R S
S
.
Th e d wel l ers in C ol orno s h alls th e Sl ow ak a t 11 18
The ho w d a t th e E s c u ri al , theMagyar stern
l yb rave
All we pt the early stri cke n fl o we r and b u rst fro eve ry
tongu e :
“ M ou rn for t e
love d
h dark e y e d Is abe l L mournfor
”
and you ng !
’
,
'
’
-
,
-
-
m
1 44
W
’
H IT TIE R S
P O E M S;
Bel o w it, a strea m onits be d O
f ston e
F rom a rift in th e ro ck c om e s hu rrying dow n
T elling for ever th e s am e wild t al e
O f its lofti e r hom e to the low ly val e ;
And o ve r its wa te rs an oak is be nd i n
g
Its b ou ghs li ke a skel etons ayms ex tend ing
A n ake d tree b y th e light ing shorn
W ith its tru nk all bare and its b ra ch es to ;
And th e ro ck s be nea th it bl ackénd and re n
t
T e ll wh er e th e b olt ofthe thun d er w ent
,
,
’
'
n
,
r
n m
,
’
,
,
.
’
T is s aid th at this cave is an
’
v
ev il
l
a
c
e
p
Th e chosenhau nt of th e fal l e n race ;
Th at th e midnigh ttravell er Oft h a th See n
A re d flam e tremb l e its j aw s be tween,
And lighte n and qu i ver th e b ou ghs among
Li ke th e fi ery pl ay o f a Se rp ent s tongu e ;
Th at so u nds of fear from its c h amb ers s we ll
Th e ghostly gi bber th e fi endish y el l ;
Th a t b odil e ss h ands at its e ntr an ce wave
And he nce th e y h ave n am ed it TH E DEMON S C AVE !
‘
.
,
’
'
,
,
’
Th e fears ofma
nto this pl ace h ave l ent
A te rror whi ch N ature n eve r m
eant ;
For w ho h a th w and er d w ith c u riou s e y e
This dim and Sh a dowy cave rn b y
And k nown in th e sunor star light a u ght
W hi ch mighf not bes ee m so lon el y a spot
Th e stealthy fox and th e shy racc o on
Th e night b i rd s w ing in th e Shining moon ,
Th e frog s lo w cro ak and u pon th e hill
The stea dy ch ant ofth e whipp oor will
’
'
,
,
,
-
,
,
,
,
,
-
’
’
,
,
,
W
’
H IT T I E R S
PO E M S
1 45
.
Ye t is ther e som e thing to fan c y d ear
its lin ge ring fear
I this s il e nt cave
hic h te lls of anoth e r a
S om
e thing w
ge
O f th e wiz ard s wand and th e S yb il s p a ge
O f th e fairy r ing and the h aunte d gl en
An
d the re stl e s s phdntoms of mu rd erd m en
Th e grand am e s tal e and th e nu rs e s s ong
b er d long ;
Th e dr eams of c h ildhood rem
em
An
d I lo ve even now to list th e tal e
O f the? De mons C ave and its hau nted val e
n
,
’
’
,
,
,
’
,
’
’
,
.
’
‘
’
.
,
13
TH E FR AT
R ICID E
.
nly p ub l ish ed H istory of Wyomi ng ”— a v all ey rend ered
c lassi c g rou nd by the poetry ofCampbell — inanaccou nt of the attack of
en
ts n1 778, a f
d t and B u tl er onthe settl em
B ran
earful Circ u m
stan
ce is
i
mentioned A tory , who had j oi ned the Endians and B ritiéh, d iscovered
g theAmeri c ans and , d eaf to his entreifi
c
his ownb roth er whil e pursu i n
ies,
d eli b erately p resented his iifle and shot himd ead onthe spot The mur
d erer fled to Canada
c
In
“
the re e t
‘
’
'
.
,
,
'
.
.
.
stood onth e b ro w of th e we ll known hill ,
Its few gra y o ak s moand ove r himstill
Th e l a st of th at fore st w hi c h cast th e gloom
O f its sh a do w a t eve o e r his c hild hood s hom e ;
And th e beau tifu l vall e y be n eath him l ay
W ith its qu i vering l eave s and its stre ams a t pl ay
And th e s u nshin e ove r it all the whil e
Li ke th e gold e n sho we r of th e E astern isl e :
HE
‘
‘
’
’
’
I
,
,
He k n ew th e ro ck with its finge ring vin e
And its gra y top tou ch d b y th e sl ant s u nsh in e
And th e d eli cat e strea m whi c h c re pt be n eath
S oft a s th e fl o w of an infant s b rea th ;
And th e fl o wers whi c h l eau d to th e W e st W i nd s sigh
Kissing each rippl e w hi c h glid e d b y ;
And h e kn e w every vall e y a nd w ood e d s we ll
For th e v isions of c hildhood ar e trea s u re d we ll
,
’
,
I
’
’
’
,
.
1 46
,
P O E MS
1 48
.
O f his ownfi erce d ee ds in
tha t fearfu l ho ur
W h e n th e t e rri b l e B r andt wa s forth in p o we r
’
And h e cl aSp d his h ands o er his b u rning eye
To sh adow th e vision whi ch glid e d b y
,
’
.
It cam e with th e ru sh o fthe b attl e Storm
W ith a b roth er s sh ake n and kn eeling form
And his pr ay er for life wh e n a b roth er s arm
W as lifte d ab o ve him for mortal h arm ,
And th e fi e ndish cu rs e an
d th e groan of d ea th
And the we lling ofb lood an
d th e g u rgl ing brea th
And th e s calp torn off whil e eac h rlerv e c o ul d fee l
Th e wr en ching h and and th e j agge d ste el
-
’
,
’
,
,
,
‘
And th e O ld m an groand— for h e saw a gain
Th e m angl ed c o rs e of his kinsma n sl ain ,
As it l ay wh e re his h and had hu rl d it th eir
At th e shad ow d foot of th a t fearfiil gl en
And it ros e e rec t w ith th e d ea th p an g gri m
And pointe d its b loodi e d finger at him
And his h eart gr ew c old— and th e c u rs e of C ain
B uru d l ike a fir e in th e Old m an s b ra in
’
,
,
,
’
,
’
I
,
-
,
’
’
.
O h h a d h e nots ee n th at S p ec tre ris e
O n th e b l u e of th e c old Can adian sk i e s
F rom th e l ake s w hi ch S l eep in th e an c i e nt w ood
It h a d ris e n to wh isp er its t al e ofb lood
And foll ow d his bark to th e somb re shore
And gl are d b y night th rou gh th e W igwa m door ;
And h e re — ou his ownfamili ar hill
l t ros e on his h au nte d vision still !
,
,
’
,
,
,
w nr r r rnns
'
’
'
P OE M S
1 49
.
W hos e c ors e w as th a t whi c h th e morro w s su n
Throu gh th e op ening b o u ghs l ook d calmly on
’
,
’
,
Th ere wer e th ose w ho b ent o er th a t rigid face
W ho we ll inits d arkend lin e s might trace
Th e feature s ofhi who a traitor fled
F rom a b roth e r whos e b lood himsel fhad sh e d
re h e strang e ly di e d
And th er e— ou th e S p ot wh e
Th e y mad e th e grave ofth e F ratri c id e !
’
I
m
’
,
,
e
‘
1 3*
,
S UICI D E
OND
P
.
a d ark and dismal littl e p ool and fe d b y tiny rill S
And b osomd in wave l e ss qu i e tu d e b e twee n tw o barren hills ;
The re is no t ree on its r u gge d arge s ave a w
illo w O ld
and lon e ,
Like a solitary mou mer for its sylvan siste rs gon e
’
TIS
,
’
m
,
,
.
Th e plou gh of th e farm e r tu rne th not th e s ward Of its
gloomy shor e
W hi c h b ears even ow th e s am e gray moss whi ch in
oth e r tim e s it b ore ;
And se ldom or n ever th e trea d of
i s h eard in th at
lon e ly S p ot
For w ith a ll th e d we ll e rs a rou nd th a t p ool its s tory is
u nfo rgot
‘
‘
‘
n
,
K
,
'
.
w hy
do e s th e t rave ll er tu rn a sid e from th at d ark and
sil ent pool
T hou gh th e su n be b u rning ab ove his h ead a nd th e
W illo w s Sh ade be c o ol
Or gl an ce w ith fear to its sh a do wy b rink wh e n night
re sts d ark ly th e r e
And do wn throu gh its su ll e n and evil d e pths , th e stars of
th e midnight gl are
And
,
,
’
,
,
,
I
1 50
w nrr
1 52
'
'
nns P O E M S
’
rr
.
W ith th e r i ng on her ta p er finge r still and h e r n eckl ac e
of o ean p earl
Tw in e d a s in mo ckery ro u nd the n eck O f thatsu icid al girl
,
c
,
.
And
w hy sh e p erish d
’
so
strange ly th er e no mort al tong ue
t
e
ll
n
a
S h e told h e r story to non e and D e
ath re ta ins h er s ec re t
well !
And th e w illo w who s e mossy and a
ge d b ou ghs o er th e
sil ent water l ean
Like a s a d and sorrow fu l mou rne r of th e beau tiful d ea d
is s een !
c
’
,
’
,
,
,
m
ll a ge m
aid ens say wh e n the su m er eve n
ings fall
W h en th e frog is c alling from hi s p ool to th e c ri cke t in
th e wall ;
W h e n th e night h awk s wi ng dips lightly do wn
to th a t
d u ll and sl eeping l ake
And slo w throu gh its gree and sta gn ant ma ss the shore
ward c irc l e s br eak
B u t oft,
ou r vi
'
,
,
-
’
~
n
,
At a tim e li ke this , a misty form— as fog be n eath th e
moon
Like a me te or glid e s to th e startl e d vi ew and vanish e s a s
soon ;
Ye t weare th it ever a h u m an sh ap e and eve r a h u man cry
C om e s faintly and lo w on th e still night air as wh e n th e
d esp ai ring di e !
,
,
-
,
TH E FO U N TAI N?
d eclivity of a hill inSali sbu ry E ssen cou nty is a beau ti ful
fountainof c l ear water gu shi ng o t fromthe v ery roots of a maj esti c and
v en
owwow
cti on of the P
erab l e oak
It is abou t two mil es fromthe j u n
riv er wi th the Merri m
ac k
On the
,
,
,
_
u
,
-
.
.
um
ey toiling
nthy j O
By theSwift P oww o w ,
W ith th e s ummer s u nshine falling
O n thy heate d b row
Listen w hil e a ll el Se is still
To the b rookl e t from th e hill
TRAVE L L E R !
‘
o
,
,
h
.
Wild and s weet th e fl owers are b lowing
B y tha t Streaml e t s sid e
And a green er verd u re Show ing
W here its waters glid e
D ow n th e hill slo pe m u rmu rin
g on
O ver root and mo ssy ston e
’
,
‘
-
,
‘
.
W h ere you oak his b ro a d a rms flingeth
O er th e sloping hill
Be
au tifu l and fr e shl y springe th
Th at soft fl
ow in
g rill
Throu gh its d ark roots w reath d and ba re
Gu shing u p to su nand air
’
,
-
,
’
,
.
1 53
w nrr r rs ns
1 54
'
’
'
P O EM S
.
B right er waters sp arkl e d n eve r
In th a t m a gi c well
O f whos e gift O f life for eve r
An c i e nt l e ge nds te ll
In th e lon
e ly d e s ert waste d
An
d b y morta l lip u nta ste d
,
,
,
.
*
u
a
t
e
rs
w
hi
h
th
e
pro
d
C
a
stili
a
n
c
W
So u ght w ith longing e y e s
Und e rn ea th th e b right p avilion
O f th e Indi an s ki e s ;
W h ere u p on his fore st wa y
B l Oomd th e fl o w e rs of F lorid a
,
’
.
ly strange r,
Years a go a lone
W ith th e d u sky b ro w
O f the o u tca st fore st r ange r
C ross d th e s w ift P o ww o w ;
d be too k himto th e rill
An
And th e oak u pon th e hill
-
,
’
,
.
O er his face
of
moody s a dn e ss
F or an instant shon e
S om e thing like a gl ea m of gl adn e ss
As h e stoop d him d ow n
To th e fo u ntain s gra ssy sid e
And his ea ge r thirst su ppli e d
’
,
’
’
.
* De
n
ew
Soto, inthe
i
world insearc h of gold
c ent ry
p enetrated i nto the wilds Of the
an
d the fou n
tai nOf perp etu al y ou th
n
th
S x tee
u
,
‘
.
’
1 56
W H ITT IE R
S
POEMS
.
Wh er e no lingerin
t
r
a
c
e
w
t
e
l
ing
a
s
l
g
O f th er e W igwa m fire s
W ho th e gloomy tho u ghts might know
O f th a t wand ering c hild Ofw oe
,
Nake d l ay in s u nshin e glow ing
H ills th a t on ce h a d stood
D o w n th e ir sid es th e sh a do w s thro wing
O f a mi ghty wood
W h ere th e d ee r his c o vert ke p t
And th e ea gl e s pinion s wep t !
,
,
,
,
’
W h ere th e b ir ch cano e h ad glid e d
D o w n th e s wift P o ww o w
Dark a n
d gloomy b ridge s strid ed
Thos e c l ear waters now
And wh ere on ce the beave r s wam
J a r d th e wh eel and frownd th e d a m
,
,
’
’
‘
.
F or th e w ood b irds merry singing
And th e h u nter s c h eer
I ron c l ang and h amm er s ringing
S mote u p on
his ear ;
And th e thi ck and s u ll e n smo ke
nd fqrges b ro ke
F romth e b lacke
'
’
-
,
’
,
’
’
‘
.
C ou ld it be his fath ers eve r
L ove d to linger h e r e ?
’
Th e s e bar e hills— this ca u er d ri ve r
C ou ld th e y hold th e m d ear ,
W ith th e ir n a tive lo ve lin e ss
Ta m e d and t ortu re d int o this 1
,
_
,
W
’
H ITTIE R S
POE MS
1 57
.
S a dly a s th e shad e sof eve n
Gather d o e r th e hill
W hil e th e we ste rn h a lf of Heaven
B l u sh d w ith s u ns e t still
F rom th e fou ntain s mossy s eat
T u ru d th e Indi an s weary fee t
,
’
’
,
’
,
’
’
’
:
Year ony ear h ath fl o w n for ever
B u t he cam e no mor e
To th e hill sid e or th e rive r
W h e re h e cam e be fore
B u t th e v ill ag e r can t e ll
O f th at strange m an s v isit we ll
,
-
.
’
.
And th e m e rry childr en l ad e n
W ith th e ir fru its or flow ers
Ro ving b oy and l au ghing m aid en
In th e ir s chool d ay hOu rs
Love th e simpl e t al e to te ll
O f th e Indi an and his we ll
,
-
,
.
14
,
PNTU
CK E T
E
.
v hill onthe Merri mack c all ed b y the Indi ans
ty y ears a fron
ti er town an
g thirty
P
en
tu cket was for n
ea ly sev en
d d uri n
y ears end ured al l the horro s ofsavag e warfare Inthe year 1 708 a com
b rn
c h and Ind i ans u nd er the c ommand of De Chal l ions
ed body of Fren
an
d H ertel d e Rou vill e the i n
famou s and b l ood y sacker offleerfiel d
mad e an attack u pon the vill ag e Wt h at that ti me c ontai ned only
th i rty h ou ses
d a sti ll l arg er
assac red an
S i x teenof the vill age s we e m
nu mb er mad e prisoners Ab o t th i ty Of the enemy al so fell and among
th emH e tel d e Rou vill e
The mi ni ster of the p l ace B en
jaminRol fe was
k i ll ed by a Shot th ough his ownd oor
The vill age
of
H a er
,
,
r
,
,
r
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
r
.
u
.
r
r
,
r
,
,
.
r
,
.
H o w swee tly onth e w o od girt to wn
Th e m e ll o w light O f su ns e t shon e !
E ac h sm all , bright l ake w hos e wat ers still
M irror th e fore st and th e hill
R eflec te d from its wave l e ss b rea st
Th e bea u ty of a c lo u dl e ss W e st
G lorio u s a s if a glimps e were given
W ithin th e we stern gate s of Heaven
L e ft b y th e S pirit of th e star
O f su ns e t s hol y hou r aj ar !
-
,
,
,
,
,
’
,
B e sid e th e river s tranqu il fl ood
Th e d ark and l ow w all d d we llings stood
W h er e m any a rood of op en l and
S tretch d u p and d o w n on e ith e r h and
’
-
’
,
’
,
1 58
W
1 60
’
H IT T I E R S
POEMS
.
f m any fee t
W as tha t th e tread O
W hi c h do wnward from th e hill sid e bea t ?
W h at forms we re thos e whi ch d arkl y s tood
J u st onth e m argin of th e w oo d
Char d tr ee stu mps in th e moonlight d im
O r p aling r u d e or l eafle ss limb
N o— thro u gh th e tree s fi er ce e y e balls glow d
Dark hu m an forms in moonshin e S ho w d
W ild from th e ir n ative w ild erne ss
W ith p ainte d l imb s and battl e d re s s !
,
-
’
-
,
,
’
-
’
,
,
~
-
A y e ll th e d ea d mi ght wake to h ea r
S wel l d on th e night air far and c l ear
Th e smote th e Indi an tom ah awk
O n c ra shing door and sh a tte ring lo ck
Th e n ra ng th e rifl
e S hot— an
d th e n
Th e shrill d eath s c rea m of stri cke n m e n
S u nk th e r e d ax e in w om an s b rain
And c hildhood s c ry a ros e in vain
B u rsting thro u gh roof and wi ndo w cam e
R e d fa st and fi e rce the kindl e d flam e ;
And b l e nd e d fire and moonlight gl are d
O ve r d ead c o rs e and weapo ns bared
,
,
’
n
,
-
-
’
,
’
,
,
,
.
Th e morning su nl ook d b rightly th ro u gh
The riv er w illo w s we t w ith d ew
NO sou nd of c ombat fill d th e a ir
NO shou t w as h eard — nor gu nshot th e re :
Ye t still th e thi ck and s u ll e n smoke
F rom smo ul d e ring ru ins slo wly b roke ;
’
/
.
,
’
,
,
-
,
W
’
H I TTIE R S
And onth e gree n s ward
POEMS
1 61
.
many a stain
,
And h e re and th ere th e m angl e d Sl a in
Told ho w th a t midnight b olt h a d sp e d
tu cket on thy fa te d h ea d
en
,
,
P
,
,
,
E ve n no w th e vill ager can tell
Wh ere R ol fe be sid e his h ea rth S ton e fe ll
S till Sho w th e d oor of wasting o ak
Thro u gh whi c h th e fa tal d eath shot b roke
And point th e cu riou s stra ng er wh ere
De Rou v ill e s c ors e l ay grim and bare
W hos e hid e o u s h ea d in d eath s till fear d
B ore not a trace of h air or beard
And still within th e c hu r chy ard grou nd
Heave s d arkly u p th e an c i ent mo u nd
Be neath whos e gra ss gro wn s u rface li e s
Th e victims of th a t s ac rifi ce
,
-
,
-
,
’
’
,
,
,
,
,
-
.
14
*
T H E M I SS I O N ARY
f l anard uous thi ng to root ou t ev ery affecti onfor earthly
th i n
gs so as to l i ve only for anoth er world I amnow far v ery far from
d as Oftenas I l ook arou n
d and see the Indi ansc enery I sigh
you al l ; an
to thi n
k Of the d i stanc e wh i c h sep arates us ”— L etters ofH eny Martyn
It is anaw
u ,
,
.
,
,
,
r
.
SA
Y,
whos e i s this fair pi c tu r e whi c h th e light
F rom th e u nshu tter d w indow r e sts u pon
E ve n a s a linge ring h alo — Bea utifu l !
Th e keen fin e e y e of manhood and a lip
L o ve ly a s th a t of H yl a s and impress d
W ith th e b right S ign e t of som e b rilliant thou gh t
That b road e xp ans e of for eh ea d c l ear and high
Mark d visib ly with th e c h arac ters of mind
An
d the free l ooks aro u nd it rave n b l ack
L u xu ri ant and u nsil v er d — w ho w as h e
,
‘
’
,
,
’
,
,
,
’
,
,
,
’
A fri e nd a mo re th an b roth e r In th e sprin g
And glory of his be ing h e we nt forth
F rom th e e mb race s of d e v ote d fri ends
From ea s e and qu i et h appin e ss from more
F rom th e wa rm h eart th a t l ove d him w ith a lo ve
H o li er th anearthly p a ssion and to whom
Th e beau ty of his S pi rit shone ab ov e
Th e c h arms of p e ris hing n at u re He went forth
— gift e d to su b du e
uf
f
to
s
e
r
S tren
h
t
e
n
d
g
.
,
,
,
,
.
’
1 62
W
1 64
’
POEMS
H I TT IE E S
.
H a d snatch d as from th e b u rning He alon e
F e lt th e l a st p re ss u re of his failing h and
C au ght th e l a st glimps e s O f his c losing e y e
And laid th e gree ntu rf ove r him with tears
And le ft him w ith his G od
’
.
,
,
,
.
And w as it we ll
Dear l a dy th at this nob l e mind shou ld ca st
Its ri c h gifts onth e wa te rs — Th at a h ea rt
F u ll of all gentl en e ss and tru th and love
S ho u ld w ith e r onth e s u i c id al Shri ne
Of a mistake n d u ty
1 f I r ea d
Aright the fin e inte lligen ce w hich fills
Tha t amplitu d e ofb ro w and gaze s ou t
L ike a n indwe lling spirit from th at e y e
He might h ave b orn e him loftily among
Th e p rou d e st ofhis l and and w ith a ste p
Unfalte ring eve r steadfa st and s ec u re
G on e u p th e p aths of gr ea tn e ss bearing still
A siste r spirit w ith him a s som e star
P re e min e nt in Heaven l eads steadily u p
A kindre d watch er w ith its fainter beams
B aptiz e d in its grea t glory W as it we ll
Th a t all this p romis e of th e h ea rt and mind
S hou ld p e rish from th e earth and l eave no trace
Unfolding li ke th e C e re u s of th e c lim e
W hi c h h a th its s e p u l ch re ,b u t in th e night
O f p a gan d e sol ation— wa s it well
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
-
-
,
,
.
,
Thy will b e don e 0 Fa th er — it was we ll
W ha t are th e honor s Ofa p e rishing w orl d
,
.
.
,
-
W
’
H ITTIE R S
r oa
ms
1 65
.
b y a p alsi e d finger — th e a ppl a u s e
O f th e u ntho u ghtfu l m u ltit u d e whic h gr ee ts
l
f
u
Th e d ll ear o d ecay — th e wealth th at lo a ds
Th e b i e r w ith c ostly d rap e ry and shin e s
in a nd b u ilds u p
Intins e l on th e cofi
Th e c old s u b stanti al onu m e nt ? C an th e s e
Bear u p th e sinking spi rit in th at ho u r
W h e n h eart and fle sh are faili ng and th e grave
Is op ening u nd er u s
O h d eare r th e n
Th e me mory of a kind d ee d don e to him
Who wa s ou r e n e my one gr ate fu l tea r
In th e m eek e y e ofv i rtu ou s s u ffering
O n e smil e cal l d u p b y uns ee n ch arity
O n th e wan c h eek of hu nge r or on e p raye r
B reath e d from th e b osom ofthe p e nite nt
Th e staind with c rim e and o u tcast u nto whom
Our mild reb u ke aha tend e rn e ss of l ove
A m e rc ifu l G od h ath b l ess d
'
Grasp d
’
,
m
,
,
,
,
,
’
,
’
,
’
.
“
B u t,
l a dy
say,
,
D id h e not som e tim es al most sink b eneath
.
The b u rth e n of his toil and tu rn a sid e
To wee p ab ove his s ac rifice and cas t
A so rro wing gl an ce u p on his ch ildhood hom e
S till gree n in m e mory ? C lu ng not to his h eart
S om e thing of earthly hop e u ncru cified
?
a
O f earthly tho u ght u nch stend
D id h e b ring
Life s w arm affec tions to th e sacrifice
Its lo ve s hop e s sorro w s— and bec om e a s on e
Kn
o wing no kind re d b u t a p erishing w o rld
N 0 love b u t of th e sine nd ange re d sou l
h
,
,
,
’
’
,
,
,
-
,
1 66
w nrr r rnns
’
'
'
POE MS
.
N 0 hop e b u t of th e w innin g b ack to life
O f th e d ea d n ations and no p a ssing thou ght
S ave of the e rr and wh er e with h e was s e nt
”
As to a m artyrdom 2
,
Nay, tho u gh th e h eart
B e c ons ec ra te d to th e holi e st w ork
V o u c hs a fe d to mortal efio
rt, th e r e w ill be
Ti e s ofth e ea rth arou nd it , and thro u gh all
Its p e rilo u s d ev otion it m u st kee p
Its ownh u m anity And it is well
E ls e why we pt He who w ith ou r n atu re v eil
Th e spirit of a G od o e r lost J e ru s al e m
And th e c old gra v e of L azaru s
And W hy
In th e dim garden r os e his earn e st p ray e r
Th a t from his lips the cu p of s u ffering
M ight p a ss , if it wer e p ossib le P
'
,
,
.
.
,
’
d
’
,
,
,
My fri e nd
W as of a gentl e n a tu r e and his h eart
’
Gu sh d li ke a ri ve r fo u n
t ai n of th e hills
C ea s el e ss and lavish a t a k indly smil e ,
A w ord of wel c ome or a ton e of love
F reely his l e tte rs to his fri e nds di s c los e d
H is y earnings for th e qu i e t h au nts of hom e
For lo ve and its c omp an i onship , and all
The b l e ssings l e ft be hind him ; y e t ab o ve
Its sorro w s and its c lo u ds his spi rit ro se
T earfu l and y e t triu mph ant taking hold
O f th e e ternal promis e s of G od
And steadfa st inits fa ith H e re are s om e lin e s
,
-
,
'
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
!
w nr r r rnns
1 68
'
’
'
PO E M S
.
Wh a t b lossoms in th e moonlight gl ow l
Th e Indi a nros e s love lin e ss
Th e ce ib a w ith its c rimson dre ss
Th e myrtl e w ith its b loom of sno w
’
,
,
.
And fl itting in th e fra grant air
O r n e stling in th e sh adow y tr ee s
A tho u s and b right-h u e d b irds are th ere
S trange pl u m ag e quive ring w ild a nd rar e,
W ith eve ry faintly b reathing b ree z e ;
And we t w ith d ew from ros e s sh e d
Th e B u lb u l droo ps her weary h ea d
F orge tfu l of h e r m e lodi e s
,
,
,
-
,
,
,
.
Up rising from th e ora nge l eave s
Th e t all p a god a s tu rre ts glo w ;
O er gr ace fu l sh a ft a nd fr e tte d eave s
Its ve rd a nt web th e myrtl e weave s
And h angs in fl owe ring wr eaths b elo w ;
And wh er e th e cl u ster d p alms ecl ips e
Th e moonb eams from its m arb l e lip s
Th e fou ntain s silve r wa ters fl o w
’
’
,
’
,
’
.
is love ly— earth an
d air
As au ght be n ea th th e sky m ay b e
And y e t my tho u ghts are w and ering ~where
M y n ative ro ck s li e b l eak and bare
A we ary w ay b e yond th e s ea
Th e y ea rning spirit is not h ere
It linge rs on a spot more d ear
Th an Indi a s b righ test b o wers to m e
Ye s
,
al l
.
’
.
W
H r iT I E R S
’
' ‘
POEMS
1 69
.
M e think s I trea d th e we ll kno wn stree t
Th e tree my childh ood love d is th e r e
Its bare w o rn roots are a t my fee t
And th rou gh its op en b ou ghs I m ee t
W hite glimps e s of th e pl ace of praye r
And u nforgotte n e ye s a gain
Ar e gla nc ing throu gh th e c otta ge p an e
Th an Asi a s l u stro u s e y e s mor e fair
-
,
-
,
,
’
’
.
W h at thou gh w ith every fitful gush
O f night w ind spi c y odo rs c om e ;
And h u e s of beau ty glo w and fl u sh
From m atte d vin e and w ild ros e b u sh ;
And mu si c s s wee te st fainte st hu m
S teals thro u gh th e moon
l ight as in d reams
Afar from all my S pirit s ee ms
Amid the d earer Scene s of H O ME
,
-
,
-
’
,
,
A holy n a m e— the n am e of hom e !
Ye t wh er e O wand e ring h eart, is thin e
H ere w h e re th e d u sky h ea th e n c om e
To b o w before th e d ea f and d u mb
Dea d idols of th e ir ownd e sign
W h er e d ee p in G ange s w orship d tid e
Th e i nfant sink s— and onits S id e
Th e wido w s fun er al al tars shin e
,
’
?
,
,
‘
’
’
’
wh er e mid light and song and flowe rs
Th e p ri ce l e ss sou l in ru in li e s
Lost— d ea d to a ll thos e be t ter p o we rs
W hi ch link a fall en
w orld like o u rs
H ere,
15
w nl
1 70
'
'
nns
rr r
’
P
OEMS
.
To G od s ow nholy P a radis e ;
’
Wh e r e op e n sinand hid e ou s c rim e
Ar e like th e foli a g e of th e ir c lim e
Th e u nsh orn gro w th ofcentu ri e s !
T urn , th e n my h eart— thy hom e is h e re ;
No oth e r now r e m ains for th ee
Th e smil e oflove and fri e ndship s t ea r
Th e ton e s th at m e lte d onthin e ear
Th e mu tu a l thrill of sym pa thy
Th e we l c om e of th e hou s ehold b and
Th e pre ssu r e of th e lip and h and
Thou m ay st not h ear nor fee l nor see
,
’
,
,
,
,
,
,
’
,
.
,
Thou , alon
e,
’
’
W ho watchest o er my pill ow d h ea d ,
W hos e ear is op e n to the mo an
And sorro w ing of thy c hild , h ast know n
Th e gri e f whi c h a t my h ea rt has fe d ,
Th e stru ggl e of my sou l to ris e
Ab ove its earth b orn symp a thi e s ,
The t ears of m any a sl ee pl e ss be d ?
God
of
my S pirit
—
‘
-
O h b e Thin e arm a s it h ath been
In eve ry te st ofh eart and faith
’
Th e T e mpte r s dou b t— th e w il e s of m e n
Th e h eath e n s s c o ff— th e b osom sin
A h e lp e r a nd a stay b e n ea th ,
A stre n gth inweak n e ss mid th e strife
And anguish ofmy w a sting life
My sol ace and my hop e in d ea th
,
,
’
,
W
’
H IT TIE R S
OEMS
P
.
I k n ew ho w d e li cat ely wrou ght
W ith fee ling and inte ns e st tho u ght
W as each s wee t lineam ent of thin e
And th at thy h eaven ward so u l w ou ld ga in
An early free dom from its ch ain
W as th e re not m any a sign P
,
,
-
,
Th e r e was a b rightn e ss in thin e e y e
Ye t not O f mirth
A light whos e c l ear inte nsity
W as not O f earth !
Along thy ch eek a d ee p ening red
Told wh ere th e feve rish h ec ti c fe d
And , y e t eac h fearfu l toke n gave
A n ewer and a d ea re r grace
To the mild beau ty O f thy face
W hi ch sp oke not of th e grave !
,
,
,
,
W hy did I l eave th ee — Far away
Th e y told of l ands
G littering w ith gold and non e to s tay
Th e gl ean er s h ands
For this I l e ft th ee— ay and sold
Th e r iches qfmy heartfor g old !
For yond e r m ansions vanity
For gree n ve r and a s h u ng w ith fl o we rs
For m arb l e d fou nt and oran
ge b o we rs
And grove and flow erl ng tree
,
’
.
,
’
,
,
,
.
Va in—
w orthl e ss all ! Th e lo wli e st sp ot
En
j oy d with th ee
A ri c h e r and a d e arer lot
W ou ld s ee m to m e :
,
’
,
W
POE MS
’
H ITTIE R S
1 73
.
For we ll
I kn ew th at tho u c o u ldst find
C ontentme nt in thy sp otl e ss mind
And in my ow nu nch anging l ove
— F u lly m
W hydid I l eave th ee P
in e
Th e b l e ssing of a h eart like thin e
W h at c ou ld I ask ab ove
,
.
,
M in e is a s e lfish mis ery
I cannot wee p
For on e s u pr e mely b l e st li ke th ee
W ith Heaven s sl ee p
Th e p a ssion and th e strife of tim e
C an n ever r each th at sinl e ss c lime
W h er e th e red eemd of spirit d we ll
W hy shou ld I weep th at thou art fr ee
F rom all th e gri e f whi ch m a dd ens m e
S ainte d and love d— F arewe ll !
,
,
’
,
’
L I N ES O N A P ORTR AIT
.
H ow b eau tiful
Th at b ro w O f snow
Th at gl ossy fall of fair b ro wn tre ss e s ,
Th e b lu e e y e s tr anqu il h eave n be lo w
Th e h and wh e re on th e fair c h eek pr e ss e s
Half Shad ow d b y a falling c u rl
W hi c h onth e te mpl e s light r e p os e s
E ac h finger like a lin e O f p earl
C ontra st e d w ith th e c h eek s p u r e ros e s !
Th e re as she sits ben ea th th e sh ad e
B y vin e and ros e wreath d arb or m a d e
T e mp ering th e light whi ch soft and warm
R eveals h e r fu ll and matchl e ss form
In thou ghtfu l qu i e tu d e she s eems
Li ke one of R aph ae l s p ictu r d d reams
W h e re b l end in on e al l r a di ant face
’
Th e w om an s w armth— th e ange l s grace !
-
,
’
,
,
’
-
’
’
,
’
-
,
,
,
,
,
’
’
,
’
W e ll— I can gaz e u pon it no w
AS onsom e c lo u d of au tu mn s even
B athing its pinions in th e glo w
And glory O f th e s u ns e t h eaven
S O holy and S O far away
Th at love w itho u t d e si re is cherish d
Li ke th at whi c h linge rs o er th e c l ay
W hos e warm and b rea thin g life h a s p erish d
,
’
,
.
’
,
’
’
,
1 74
STAN ZA S
.
h b eauti fu l Z— L iv e th eninaccord anc e wi th the cu ri ous mak e
d l et th e b ea ty of thy p ersonteac h th ee to
e ofthy c reati on; an
an
d fram
”
d
b eau ti fy thy mi nd with hol i ness the o nament of the b el ov ed of Go
n
en
W llz amP
“ Art t ou
u
r
,
z
.
.
B IND u p thy tre ss e s tho u bea u tifu l on e
O f b ro wn i n th e sh a do w and gold in the su n!
F ree sho u ld th e ir d e li cat e l u stre be thro wn
O er a foreh ea d more p u re tha n the P a ri anston e
S h a ming th e light of thos e O ri ent p earls
W hi ch b ind o e r its w hiten e ss thy soft w reath ing c u rl s
,
,
’
’
S mil e— for thy gl an ce onth e mirror is th ro wn
And th e face of a nangel is m ee ting thin e ow n!
B eau tifu l cr ea tu re — I m arve l not
Th at thy ch eek a love li e r tint h a th cau ght ;
And th e kindling light of thin e e y e h ath told
O f a d ear e r wealth th an th e mis e r s gold
,
’
.
Away away— th e r e is d ange r h e r e
A t e rri b l e ph antom is be nding n ear ;
G h a stly and s u nke n his rayl e ss e y e
S c o w ls on thy lo velin e ss s c ornfu lly
W ith no h u m anloo k— w ith no h u m an b rea th ,
He stands be sid e th ee — th e h aunte r D E ATH !
,
,
,
,
F ly ! b u t a l a s ! h e w ill follo w still
L i ke a m oonlight sh ado w be yond thy w ill ;
,
,
,
1 76
.
w nr r r rE
'
'
ns P O E M S
’
1 77
.
In thy noon d ay wal k— inthy midnight S l ee p
Clos e a t thy h and w ill th a t pha ntom keep
S till in thin e ear S h all his w hisp ers b e
W o th at s u c h ph antom shoul d follo w th ee !
-
,
,
In th e lighted h all wh e r e th e d ancersg o
L ike beau tiful S pirits to and fro ;
W h e n thy fa ir arms gl an ce in th e ir s tainl e ss white
Like i v ory bath e d in s til l moonlight ;
And not on e s tar in the holy sk y
Hath a c l e ar er l ight th an thin e o w n b l u e e y e !
,
,
O h the n— eve n the n— he w ill follo w th ee
AS th e rippl e follow s th e bark a t sea ;
In the softend ligh t— inthe tu rning d ance
He w ill fix on thin e his d e ad c old glan ce
Th e c hill of his b r ea th on thy c h eek sh all l in
ge r
And thy warm b lood shrink from his i c y finge r !
,
,
—
’
,
,
And y e t th er e is hop e, Emb race it no w
W hil e thy sou l is op e n as thy b ro w ;
W hil e thy h eart isfre sh — w hil e its fee lings still
G u sh c l ear as th e u nsoil d mo u n tain rill
And thy smil e s ar e free as th e airs of sp ring
G r ee ting and b l e ssing eac h b r eathing thing
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W h en the after care s of thy life sh all c om e
W h e n th e b u d sh all with e r be fore its b loom ;
W h e n thy sou l is si ck ofth e e mptin e ss
And ch angefu l fa shion of h uman b liss ;
And th e weary to rp or of b light e d feeling
O ver thy h eart as i ce is stealing
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w nrr r rnns
1 78
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P
OEMS
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Th en w h e n thy S pirit is t uru d ab ove
B y th e mild reb u ke O f th e Ch a s ten er s l ove ;
W h e n th e hop e of th a t j oy in thy h eart is stir d ,
W hi c h e y e h a th n
ot s ee n nor ea r h a th h eard
T H E N w ill th at ph a ntom of d ark n e ss be
G la dne ss , and P romis e , a nd B liss to th ee
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1 80
W
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POEMS
H ITT IE R S
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D istinc t be fore m e like a b reathing thing
E ve n wh e n I kno w th a t h e is w ith th e d ead
And th at th e d amp earth hid e s him I w ou ld not
Think of him oth erwis e— his im a ge l i ve s
W ithin my m e mory a s he S eemd be fore
Th e c u rs e of b lighte d fee ling and th e toil
And fever ofanu n c onge ni a l strife h a d l e ft
Th eir trace s onhis a sp ec t
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P eace to him !
He wr e stl e d nob ly w ith th e we arin e ss
And tri als of ou r be ing— smiling on
W hil e p oison mingl e d w ith his sp rings of life
And wearing a calm b ro w w hil e on his h eart
Angu ish wa s re sting like a h and of fire
Until a t l a st th e a gony of tho u ght
G r ew insu pp ortab l e and m a dn e ss ca m e
erer died
Darkly up ofihim ,— amd the sufi
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Nor di e d h e u nl am e nte d !
T o his grave
Th e beau tifu l and gifte d sh all go u p
And mu s e u p on th e sl ee p e r And you ng lips
S h all m u rmu r in th e b roke n ton e s of gri e f
H iS o wn s wee t m e lodi e s — and if the ear
O f th e free d S pi rit heed eth a u ght be n eath
Th e b rightn e ss of its n ew inh e ritan ce
It m a y be j oyfu l to th e p arte d one
To fee l th a t E arth r e m e mbers him in love !
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