Page:The Poets and Poetry of the West.djvu/58

 42 THOMAS PEIRCE. [1820-30. Knowledge is power. — In depths pro- found, Where midnight throws her gloom around, With thunder's voice, thro' mines and caves, The demon gas resides and raves ; And as the workmen crowd below, Shiughters his thousands at a blow : And gloats with fiend-like joy his eyes. As hills of dead around him rise. Lo ! Davy, feai'less of his ire, Weaves a close net of finest wire, Descends the monster's dreary den, And, stumbling o'er the bones of men. Beholds him sunk, in grim repose. And his wire-mantle o'er him throws. He rouses, — feels his iron robe, And to its center shakes the globe ; To burst his magic fetters tries. And in the desperate eifort dies. Thus fell by great Alcides' hand. The hydra-monster of the land. Knowledge is power. — When private jars Were changed of yore to public wars, Till millions, prodigal of life. Rushed to the field and joined the strife, Where in close conflict, hand to hand, With javehn, battle-ax, and brand. More copious streams of blood were shed, And raised were larger piles of dead, Immortal Bacon rose to view. And nature's thickest vail withdrew, And as her light illumed his mind. Three magic substances combined. Touched by a spark, the new compound Exploded Avith tremendous s^^nd; And myriads heard with dread irprise. The mimic thunder of the skies. Knowledge is power. — In olden time, When superstition, leagued with crime. Ruled the wide world, ere classic light Had pierced the gloom of Gothic night ; While tedious years of toil and care Were spent one transcript to prepare. Which chance might to obUvion doom, A drop deface, a spark consume ; — Laurentius like an angel moves From Hierlem's academic groves. And with his wooden types combined, Gives a new Avonder to mankind. Hence knowledge flew at his command From sea to sea, fi-om land to land. And science his broad flag unfurled. To wave it o'er a brighter world ; Hence unimpaired to us have come The classic works of Greece and Rome, And we their wit and learning know. Though 23enned three thousand years ago; And hence these lamps a path will light To erudition's mountain height ; And thence, as step by step we rise, To perfect knowledge in the skies. YOUTH AND OLD AGE. Youth is the time when man. With industry and care, The store-house of his mind should scan. And lay up treasures there Of virtuous thoughts and useful lore, Ere life's unclouded morn is o'er. Old age is that bright hour To erring mortals given, To drop earth's riches, joys and power, And lay up wealtli in heaven, For their support, when time shall be Merged in a bless'd eternity.