Lo! threescore years have passed; and where With Northern drum-roll, and the clear, O, fields still green and fresh in story, Where's now the flag of that old war? Where flows its stripe? Where burns its star? Dark Vale of Palms, red Monterey, Of chains and slaves, go seek it there! Laugh, Prussia, midst thy iron ranks ! B THE WATCHERS. ESIDE a stricken field I stood; Hung heavily the dew of blood. Still in their fresh mounds lay the slain, But all the air was quick with pain And gusty sighs and tearful rain. Two angels, each with drooping head The one, with forehead saintly bland The other's brows were scarred and knit, His hands for battle-gauntlets fit. "How long!" - I knew the voice of Peace, — "Is there no respite ? - no release ? When shall the hopeless quarrel cease? "O Lord, how long! One human soul Is more than any parchment scroll, Or any flag thy winds unroll. "What price was Ellsworth's, young and brave? How weigh the gift that Lyon gave, Or count the cost of Winthrop's grave? "O brother! if thine eye can see, Then Freedom sternly said: "I shun "I knelt with Ziska's hunted flock, "The moor of Marston felt my tread, Through Jersey snows the march I led, My voice Magenta's charges sped. "But now, through weary day and night, I watch a vague and aimless fight For leave to strike one blow aright. "On either side my foe they own: One guards through love his ghastly throne, And one through fear to reverence grown. "Why wait we longer, mocked, betrayed, "Why watch to see who win or fall ? "Nay," Peace implored: "yet longer wait ; The doom is near, the stake is great : God knoweth if it be too late. "Still wait and watch; the way prepare Where I with folded wings of prayer May follow, weaponless and bare." "Too late!" the stern, sad voice replied, "Too late!" its mournful echo sighed, In low lament the answer died. A rustling as of wings in flight, But round me, like a silver bell "Still hope and trust," it sang; "the rod Must fall, the wine-press must be trod, But all is possible with God!" LINES, WRITTEN ON THE ADOPTION OF PINCKNEY'S RESOLUTIONS, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND THE PASSAGE OF CALHOUN'S "BILL FOR EXCLUDING PAPERS, WRITTEN OR PRINTED, TOUCHING THE SUBJECT OF SLAVERY FROM THE U. S. POST-OFFICE," IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. MEN EN of the North-land! where's the manly spirit .. Is the old Pilgrim spirit quenched within us, Now, when our land to ruin's brink is verging, What! shall we henceforth humbly ask as favors Here shall the statesman forge his human fetters, Torture the pages of the hallowed Bible, To sanction crime, and robbery, and blood ? And, in Oppression's hateful service, libel Both man and God? |