Page:The Poets and Poetry of the West.djvu/285

 1840-50.] - HARVEY RICE. 269 Strike with the hero's heart, No hills or vales, or vernal birth For liberty and life! — Of flowers, or radiant bars Ay, strike for truth ; preserve her chart ; Of light to break upon the stream. That bears us onward, like a dream, Her chart, unstained, preserve ; On, in the dread Hereafter ? 'Twill guide you right ; Press on, and never swerve, Believe — there is no death for him. But keep your armor bright. Who lives on earth aright ; And struggle still, with firmer nerve. He sees no shadows, dark or grim ; For him there is no night — Error must fall at last. No last dull sleep— no fearful knell— It is ordained; — No terrors — when he goes to dwell, Old creeds are crumbling fast. There, in the dread Hereafter ! But ere the victory's gained. Heroes must strike — the die is cast ! For life and death are but the same — Phantoms beneath the skies ; What though the tempest rage, And yet the stars with radiant flame BuflPet the sea ! Shall crown the good and wise ; Where duty calls, engage ; And all that live, though wrapt in fire. And ever strive to be Survive the test, and bless their Sire, The moral Hero of the Age ! Bless'd in the dread Hereafter ! EXTRACT FROM "MT. YERNON." HEREAFTER. How vain the lofty tower. Alas ! how fearful — silent — vast, Though reared to heaven by giant hand. The dim and shadowy realm, To speak his praise, whose matchless power Where undisputed reigns the Past, Redeemed his native land. And voiceless waves o'erwhelm, And won him fame that will through time In dark oblivion's darker tide. expand ! All that we are, with all our pride. Lost in the dread Hereafter ! On Vernon's rugged side, Where eagles stoop to build the nest. And will there be no whisper heard. There let the Hero, with his bride. No voices, kind and sweet ; In hallowed slumber rest ; No tender heart-string, touched or stirred ; His fittest monument the mountain's crest. No love that is complete. To soothe the grief that cannot speak ; 0, may the Land that's free No faithful friend, tear-eyed and meek ; Ne'er fall a prey to faction's blight ; None in the dread Hereafter? But, with her glorious history, Still blend a holier light. And will there be no more of earth, To cheer her sons, and guide them in the No more of sky and stars ; right.