As an angel's wing, through an opening cloud, The pilgrim exile-sainted name! Rejoiced, when he came, in the morning's flame, And the moon's cold light, as it lay that night, Still lies, where he laid his houseless head ;- The pilgrim fathers are at rest : When summer 's throned on high, And the world's warm breast is in verdure drest, The earliest ray of the golden day On that hallowed spot is cast; And the evening sun, as he leaves the world, The pilgrim spirit has not fled- And it watches the bed of the glorious dead, It watches the bed of the brave who have bled, And shall guard this ice-bound shore, Till the waves of the bay, where the May-flower lay, Ex. XLIII.REPUBLICS. H. S. LEGARE.* THE name of REPUBLIC is inscribed upon the most imperishable monuments of the species; and it is probable that it will continue to be associated, as it has been in all past ages, with whatever is heroic in character, and sublime in genius, and elegant and brilliant in the cultivation of arts and letters. It would not be difficult to prove that the base hirelings who have so industriously inculcated a contrary doctrine have been compelled to falsify history and abuse reason. * Pronounced, "Legree." It might be asked, triumphantly, what land has ever been visited with the influences of liberty, that has not flourished like the spring? What people has ever worshiped at her altars, without kindling with a loftier spirit, and putting forth more noble energies? Where has she ever acted, that her deeds have not been heroic? Where has she ever spoken, that her eloquence has not been triumphant and sublime? With respect to ourselves, would it not be enough to say that we live under a form of government and in a state of society to which the world has never yet exhibited a parallel? Is it, then, nothing to be free? How many nations, in the whole annals of human kind, have proved themselves worthy of being so? Is it nothing that we are republicans? Were all men as enlightened, as brave, as proud, as they ought to be, would they suffer themselves to be insulted with any other title? Is it nothing, that so many independent sovereignties should be held together in such a confederacy as ours ? What does history teach us of the difficulty of instituting and maintaining such a polity, and of the glory that, of consequence, ought to be given to those who enjoy its advantages in so much perfection and on so grand a scale? For, can any thing be more striking and sublime than the idea of an imperial republic, spreading over an extent of territory more immense than the empire of the Caesars in the accumulated conquests of a thousand years-without prefects or proconsuls or publicans-founded in the maxims of common sense-employing within itself no arms but those of reasonand known to its subjects only by the blessings it bestows or perpetuates, yet capable of directing, against a foreign foe, all the energies of a military despotism,-a republic, in which men are completely insignificant, and principles and laws exercise, throughout its vast dominion, a peaceful and irresist ible sway, blending in one divine harmony such various habits and conflicting opinions, and mingling in our institutions the light of philosophy with all that is dazzling in the associations of heroic achievement, and extended domination, and deepseated and formidable power! Ex. XLIV.-SONG OF MARION'S MEN. OUR band is few, but true and tried,- W. C. BRYANT. The British soldier trembles Our fortress is the good green wood, As seamen know the sea. We know its walls and thorny vines, Its safe and silent islands Woe to the English soldiery And hear the tramp of thousands Then sweet the hour that brings release From danger and from toil: We talk the battle over, And share the battle's spoil. The woodland rings with laugh and shout, As if a hunt were up; And woodland flowers are gathered, To crown the soldier's cup. With merry songs we mock the wind That in the pine-top grieves, And slumber long and sweetly, Well knows the fair and friendly moon The glitter of their rifles, The scampering of their steeds. 'Tis life to guide the fiery barb Across the moonlight plain; 'Tis life to feel the night-wind Grave men there are by broad Santee, PERCIVAL Ex. XLV.-TO THE EAGLE. BIRD of the broad and sweeping wing! Where wide the storms their banners fling, Thy throne is on the mountain top; Thy fields-the boundless air; Lord of the boundless realm of air! The hearts of the bold and ardent dare, Beneath the shade of thy golden wings, The Roman legions bore, From the river of Egypt's cloudy springs, For thee they fought, for thee they fell, To thee the clarions raised their swell, Thou wert, through an age of death and fears, Till the gathered rage of a thousand years And then, a deluge of wrath it came, And it swept the earth till its fields were flame, And where was then thy fearless flight?- To the lands that caught the setting light, There, on the silent and lonely shore, For ages, I watched alone; And the world in its darkness, asked no more Where the glorious bird had flown. "But then came a bold and hardy few, And they breasted the unknown wave: I caught afar the wandering crew, "And now that bold and hardy few Are a nation wide and strong; And danger and doubt I have led them through, And they worship me in song; And over their bright and glancing arms On field, and lake, and sea, With an eye that fires, and a spell that charms, I guide them to victory." |