Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 04.pdf/178

 Richard Henry Dana.

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RICHARD HENRY DANA. I. SPIRIT dauntless, whom no danger moved, Who loved the heaving vastness of the sea, With zest its threat of gale and tempest proved, And salty wastes found sweet with liberty; When the earth-bounding heaven, sphered above Thy country, with the muttering storm did lower, When the massed engineries of hate and love Thundered and flashed with elemental power, Like was thy course as when on voyaging bound, — Steered, veering always by the central star, Unseen or seen, straight or rough capes around. Where thy soul's pointers led thee, wide and far, Sure of the port, gold-gated, that would bless With peace, in freedom's law of righteousness.

11. Let fops and worldlings sniff, and pick apart, At foibles carp, — shades that great virtues throw, — And try in vain to brand, with specious art, Thy life with failure.

Thee they could not know.

Statesman and jurist with no curule seat, A patron to the sailor and the slave, One prompt the face of jealous power to meet, Withstand, and speak the truth, the hard cost brave, Leader of hopes forlorn that must be led, If country, honor, freedom are to live; Of God's elect thou wert, and of such bred; Thee patriot saints thy place with them shall give, Whose strength in faith and courage ever lies, Whose unsought glory crowns self-sacrifice. Darwin E. Ware in Century Magazine.