A Wreath Of Virginia Bay Leaves Part 13

"THE MARQUIS."

The Brave young Marquis, second but to one For whom he felt the reverence of a son, Rides at the head of his division proud-- A ray of Glory painted on the cloud!

Mad Anthony is there, and Knox--but why Great names like battle flags attempt to fly?

Who sings of skies lit up by Jove and Mars Thinks not to chant a catalogue of stars!

I bow me low, and bowing low I pa.s.s Unnumbered heroes in unnumbered ma.s.s, While at their head in grave, and sober state, Rides one whom Time has found completely great Master of Fortune and the match of Fate!

Then Tilghman mounted on these Plains of York Swift sped away as speeds the homing hawk, And soon 'twas his to wake that watchman's cry That woke all Nations and shall never die!

THE ANCIENT ENEMIES.

Brave was the foeman! well he held his ground!

But here defeat at kindred hands he found!

The shafts rained on him, in a righteous cause, Came from the quiver of Old England's laws!

He fought in vain; and on this spot went down The _jus divinum_, and the kingly crown.

But for those scenes Time long has made amends.

The ancient enemies are present friends; Two swords, in Ma.s.sachusetts, rich in dust, And, better still, the peacefulness of rust, Told the whole story in its double parts To one who lives in two great nations' hearts; And late above Old England's roar and din Slow-tolling bells spoke sympathy of kin: Victoria's wreath blooms on the sleeping breast Of him just gone to his reward and rest, And firm and fast between two mighty Powers New treaties live in those undying flowers.

THE SPLENDID THREE.

Turned back my gaze, on Spain's romantic sh.o.r.e I see Gaul bending by the grave of Moore, And later, when the page of Fame I scan I see brave France at deadly Inkerman, While on red Balaklava's field I hear Gallia's applause swell Albion's ringing cheer, England and France, as Allies, side by side Fought on the Pieho's melancholy tide, And there, brave Tattnall, ere the fight was done, Stirred English hearts as far as shone the sun, Or tides and billows in their courses run.

That day, 'mid the dark Pieho's slaughter He said: "Blood is thicker than water!"

And your true man though "brayed in a mortar"

At feast, or at fray Will still feel it and say As he said: "Blood _is_ thicker than water!"

And full homely is the saying but this story always starts An answer from ten thousand times ten thousand kindred hearts.

Then let us pray that as the sun shines ever on the sea Fair Peace forevermore may smile upon the Splendid Three!

May happy France see purple grapes a-glow on all her hills, And England breast-deep in her corn laugh back the laugh of rills!

May this fair land to which all roads lead as the roads of Rome Led to th' eternal city's gates still offer Man a home--

A home of peace and plenty, and of freedom and of ease, With all before him where to choose between the shining seas!

May the war-cries of the Captains yield to happy reapers shouts, And the clover whiten bastions and the olive shade redoubts!

XV.

THE WAR HORSE DRAWS THE PLOUGH.

At last our Fathers saw the Treaty sealed, Victory unhelmed her broad, majestic brow, The Sword became a Sickle in the field, The war horse drew the plough.

There is a time when men shape for their Land Its inst.i.tutions 'mid some tempests' roar, Just as the waves that thunder on the strand Shape out and round the sh.o.r.e.

Then comes a day when inst.i.tutions turn And carve the men, or cast them into moulds; One Era trembles while volcanoes burn, Another Age beholds

The hardened lava changed to hills and leas, With blooming glades and orchards intermixed, Vineyards which look abroad o'er purple seas, And deep foundations fixed.

So, when fell Chaos like a baleful Fate What we had won seemed bent to s.n.a.t.c.h away Sound thinkers rose who fashioned out the State As potters fashion clay.

XVI.

HEROES AND STATESMEN.

Of their great names I may record but few; He who beholds the Ocean white with sails And copies each confuses all the view, He paints too much--and fails.

His picture shows no high, emphatic light, Its shadows in full ma.s.s refuse to fall, And as its broken details meet the light Men turn it to the wall.

Of those great names but few may pa.s.s my lips, For he who speaks of Salamis then sees Not men who there commanded Grecian ships-- But grand Themistocles!

Yet some I mark, and these discreetly take To grace my verse through duty and design, As one notes barks that leave the broadest wake Upon the stormy Brine.

These rise before me; and there Mason stands The Const.i.tution-maker firm and bold, Like Bernal Diaz, planting with kind hands Fair trees to blaze in gold.

Amid the lofty group sedate, I see Great Franklin muse where Truth had locked her stores, Holding within his steady hand the key That opened many doors.

And Trumbull, strong as hammered steel of old, Stands boldly out in clear and high relief,-- A blade unbending worth a hilt of gold,-- He never failed his Chief.

Then Robert Morris glides into my Verse Turning the very stones at need to bread-- Filling the young Republic's slender purse When Credit's self seemed dead.

Tylers I see--sprung from the st.u.r.dy Wat-- A strong-armed rebel of an ancient date, With Falkland-Carys come, to draw the lot Cast in the helm of Fate.

And Marshall in his ermine white as snow, Wise, learned and profound Fame loves to draw, His n.o.ble function on the Bench to show That Reason is the Law.

His sword unbuckled and his brows unbent, The gallant Hamilton again appears, And in fair Freedom's mighty Parliament He marches with the Peers!

Henry is there beneath his civic crown; He speaks in words that thunder as they flow, And as he speaks his thunder-tones bring down An avalanche below!

Nor does John Adams in the picture lag, He was as bold, as resolute, and free, As is the eagle on a misty crag Above a stormy sea.

And 'mid his fellows in those days of need, Impa.s.sioned Jefferson burns like a sun, The New World's Prophet of the New World's Creed-- Prophet and Priest in one!

These two together stood in our great past, When Independence flamed across the land; On Independence Day these two at last Departed hand in hand.

And they are taken by a patriot's mind As kindred types of our great Saxon stock, And that same thinker hopes some day to find Both statues in one block.[12]

But, here I number splendid names too fast, Heroes and Sages throng behind this group, And thick they come as came in Homer's past A G.o.ddess and her troop;

And as that troop, 'mid frays and fell alarms, Swept, all a-glitter, on their mission bent, And bore from Vulcan the resplendent arms To great Achilles sent,