HONESTY—A FRAGMENT.
He saved his land, but did not lay his soldier trappings down,
To change them for a regal vest, and don a kingly crown.
Fame was too earnest in her joy—too proud of such a son—
To let a robe and title mask her noble Washington.
To change them for a regal vest, and don a kingly crown.
Fame was too earnest in her joy—too proud of such a son—
To let a robe and title mask her noble Washington.
England, my heart is truly thine—my loved, my native earth—
The land that holds a mother's grave, and gave that mother birth!
Oh, keenly sad would be the fate that thrust me from thy shore,
And faltering my breath that sighed "Farewell for evermore!"
But did I meet such adverse lot, I would not seek to dwell
Where olden heroes wrought the deeds for Homer's song to tell.
Away, thou gallant ship! I'd cry, and bear me swiftly on;
But bear me from my own fair land to that of Washington.
The land that holds a mother's grave, and gave that mother birth!
Oh, keenly sad would be the fate that thrust me from thy shore,
And faltering my breath that sighed "Farewell for evermore!"
But did I meet such adverse lot, I would not seek to dwell
Where olden heroes wrought the deeds for Homer's song to tell.
Away, thou gallant ship! I'd cry, and bear me swiftly on;
But bear me from my own fair land to that of Washington.
HONESTY—A FRAGMENT.
I tell you, sir, that Honesty is naught
But a mere word bandied by men's lips;
It is a quality that does insure
Hate's venom'd arrows, and affords a prey
For human bloodhounds to hunt down to death.
There have been honest men—there may be such.
Some have been bold enough to breathe aloud
Their own peculiar homage to the God
Who form'd at first, and who at last shall judge.
They did avow their faith with steady zeal,
Nor let their breast be warp'd by bribe or threat.
What were the guerdons of such honest tongues?
The chain, the rack, the fagot, and the stake:
And the sharp crackling of consuming bones,
Commingled with the yell of saintly fiends,
Served as encouragement to speak the truth.
But a mere word bandied by men's lips;
It is a quality that does insure
Hate's venom'd arrows, and affords a prey
For human bloodhounds to hunt down to death.
There have been honest men—there may be such.
Some have been bold enough to breathe aloud
Their own peculiar homage to the God
Who form'd at first, and who at last shall judge.
They did avow their faith with steady zeal,
Nor let their breast be warp'd by bribe or threat.
What were the guerdons of such honest tongues?
The chain, the rack, the fagot, and the stake:
And the sharp crackling of consuming bones,
Commingled with the yell of saintly fiends,
Served as encouragement to speak the truth.
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