Page:The Poets and Poetry of the West.djvu/204

 188 FREDERICK W. THOMAS. [1830-40. Nature's own statesman — by experience With native energy, when soul and taught, sense He judged most wisely, and could act as Burst forth, embodied in the burning well; thought ; With quickest glance could read another's When look, emotion, tone, are all com- thought, bined — His own, the while, the keenest could When the whole man is eloquent with not tell ; mind — Warrior — with skill to lengthen, or com- A power that comes not to the call or bine. quest, Lead on or back, the desultory line ; But from the gifted soul, and the deep feel- Hunter — he passed the trackless forest ing breast. through, Now on the mountain trod, now launch'd the hght canoe. Poor Logan had it, when he mourned that none Were left to mourn for him ; — 'twas his To the Great Spirit, would his spirit bow, who swayed With hopes that Nature's impulses im- The Roman Senate by a look or tone ; part; 'Twas the Athenian's, when his foes, dis- Unlike the Christian, who just says his mayed, vow Shrunk from the earthquake of his With heart enough to say it all by heart. trumpet call ; Did we his virtues from his faults dis- 'Twas Chatham's, strong as either, or as cern, all; 'Twould teach a lesson that we well 'Twas Henry's holiest, when his spirit might learn : woke An inculcation worthiest of our creed. Our patriot fathers' zeal to burst the Brit- To tell the simple truth, and do the prom- ish yoke. ised deed. LOVE. How deeply eloquent was the debate. 0, Love ! what rhymer has not sung of Beside the council-fire of those red men ! thee? With language burning as his sense of And, who, with heart so young as his hate ; who sings. With gesture just; as eye of keenest Knows not thou ai-t self-burdened as the ken ; bee. With illustration simple but profound, Who, loving many flowers, must needs Drawn from the sky above him, or the have wings ? ground Tes, thou art wmg'd, 0, Love ! like pass- Beneath his feet ; and with unfalt'ring ing thought. zeal. That now is with us, and now seems as He spoke from a warm heart and made naught. e'en cold hearts feel. Until deep passion stamps thee in the And this is eloquence. 'Tis the intense. Impassioned fervor of a mind deep fraught brain. Like bees in folded flowers that ne'er un- fold again.