II
We hear thee pleading at the Roman bar,
While hundreds, breathless, hang upon thy words.
With many an eminent lawyer didst cross swords
In wordy combat. Truth thou didst not mar
With falsehood, woven cunningly to ensnare;
But thou didst plead with truth and eloquence,
Thy very enemies, in consequence,
Could not but secretly admire thy fair
And open warfare, waged so fearlessly.
We hear thee 'mong thy chosen intimates
Reciting speeches, in thy leisure hours,
Or listening to others heedfully:
Assisting all true merit through the gates
Of literature, of great, or lesser powers.
While hundreds, breathless, hang upon thy words.
With many an eminent lawyer didst cross swords
In wordy combat. Truth thou didst not mar
With falsehood, woven cunningly to ensnare;
But thou didst plead with truth and eloquence,
Thy very enemies, in consequence,
Could not but secretly admire thy fair
And open warfare, waged so fearlessly.
We hear thee 'mong thy chosen intimates
Reciting speeches, in thy leisure hours,
Or listening to others heedfully:
Assisting all true merit through the gates
Of literature, of great, or lesser powers.
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