“ As waits to crown that feeble hour?There into life an infant empire springs! There falls the iron from the soul; There liberty’s young accents roll, Up to the King of kings! To fair creation’s farthest bound, That thrilling summons yet shall sound; The dreaming nations shall awake,And to their centre earth’s old kingdoms shake. Pontiff and prince, your sway Must crumble from that day; Before the loftier throne of Heaven, The hand is raised, the pledge is given—One monarch to obey, one creed to own,That monarch, God, that creed, His word alone. ”
Charles Sprague
Summary
Quotes from An ode (Charles Sprague)
“ Behold! in liberty’s unclouded blaze,We lift our heads, a race of other days. XXIII.All gone! the wild beast’s lair is trodden out; Proud temples stand in beauty there; Our children raise their merry shout, Where once the death-whoop vexed the air:The Pilgrim—seek yon ancient place of graves, Beneath that chapel’s holy shade; Ask, where the breeze the long grass waves, Who, who within that spot are laid:The Patriot—go, to fame’s proud mount repair, The tardy pile, slow rising there, With tongueless eloquence shall tell Of them who for their country fell. XXIV. All gone! ”
“ Even there shall rise, as grateful myriads throng,Faith’s holy prayer and freedom’s joyful song;There shall the flame that flashed from yonder Rock,Light up the land, till nature’s final shock. XIII. Yet while by life’s endearments crowned, To mark this day we gather round, And to our nation’s founders raise The voice of gratitude and praise,Shall not one line lament that lion race,For us struck out from sweet creation’s face?Alas! alas! for them—those fated bands,Whose monarch tread was on these broad, green lands ”
