My thought revives at utterance of thy name,— Doth high behavior, sweet discourse recall, Lit with emotion’s quick and quenchless flame, Imagination interfused through all; Then peals thy voice melodious on mine ear, As when grave anthems thou didst well recite,— Laodamia’s vision sad and dear, Or “Thanatopsis,” or “Hail, Holy Light!” Thou true Professor, gifted to dispense New pathos e’en to Channing’s eloquence; If mother tongue they fail to speak or write, Nor Greek nor Latin draw thy pupils thence; Such culture, taught by the far Northern sea, This scholar brings, New England, home to thee.
“Ascending soul, sing Pæan.” Oracle.
III.
Christian beloved! devoid of art and wile,— Who lovest thy Lord so well, with heart so true, That neither mist nor mote of worldly guile May clog thy vision, nor confuse the view Of that transcendent and commanding style Of god-like manhood; which had dazed long while Each purblind brother’s idol-loving eye. Sense overpowering doth the soul belie: Thou the soul’s errand and due place dost see, Its heavenly features to thy ken disclose, As when in Nazareth thy Lord uprose, The Father’s image in Humanity. A holy service thine, interpreter Of Lazarus rising from the sepulchre.
“The virtuous mind that ever walks attended By a strong siding champion, Conscience.” Milton.
IV.
Channing! my Mentor whilst my thought was young, And I the votary of fair liberty,— How hung I then upon thy glowing tongue, And thought of love and truth as one with thee! Thou wast the inspirer of a nobler life, When I with error waged unequal strife, And from its coils thy teaching set me free. Be ye, his followers, to his leading true, Nor privilege covet, nor the wider sway; But hold right onward in his loftier way, As best becomes, and is his rightful due. If learning ’s yours,—gifts God doth least esteem,— Beyond all gifts was his transcendent view; O realize his Pentecostal dream!
“Without oblivion there is no remembrance possible. When both oblivion and memory are wise, then the general soul is clear, melodious, and true.”
V.