24.09.2007, 14:17
William Gilmore Simms
1806 - 1870 USA
Objects which influence the ambitious nature
I. Trophies. – How Planted.
The trophies which shine out for eager eyes,
In youth’s first hour of progress, and delude
With promise dearest to ambitious mood,
Lie not within life’s limits, but arise
Beyond the realm of sunset; - phantoms bright
Glowing above the tomb, having their roots
Even in the worshipper’s heart; - from whence their fruits,
And all that thence grows precious to man’s sight!
Thence, too, their power to lure from beaten ways
That Love hath set with flowers, and thence the spell,
‘Gainst which the blood denied may ne’er rebel,
That leads to sleepless nights, and toilsome days,
And sacrifice of all those human joys
That to the ambitious nature seem but toys.
II. Where Planted.
It is the error of the impatient heart
To hope undying gifts, even while the strife
Is worst; and struggling ‘gainst its mortal part,
The glorious Genius laboring still for life,
Springs even from death to birth! ‘T is from his tomb
The amaranth rises which must wreathe his brow,
And crown his memory with unfading bloom;
Rooted in best affections, it will grow,
Though watered by sad tears, and watched by pride
Made humble in rejection! Love denied,
Shall tend it through all seasons, and shall give
Her never-failing tenderness, - though still
Be the proud spirit, and the unyielding will,
That through the mortal made the immortal live!
III. The Triumph
The grave but ends the struggle! – Follows then
The triumph, which, superior to the doom,
Grows loveliest, and looks best to mortal men,
Purple in beauty, towering o’er the tomb!
O, with the stoppage of the impulsive tide
That vexed the impatient heart with needful strife,
The soul that is Hope’s living leaps to life,
And shakes her fragant plumage far and wide!
Eyes follow then in worship which but late
Frowned in defiance; - and the timorous herd
That sleekly waited for another’s word
Grow bold at last to bring – obeying Fate –
The tribute of their praise but late denied, -
Tribute of homage which is sometimes – hate!
IV. Glory and Enduring Fame
Thus Glory hath her being! thus she stands
Star-crowned, - a high divinity of woe;
Her temples fill, her columns crown all lands
Where lofty attribute is known below.
For her the smokes ascend, the waters flow,
The grave foregoes his prey, the soul goes free;
The gray gives out music; hearthstones grow
To temples at her word; her footprints see
On ruins, that are thus made holiest shrines,
Where Love may win devotion, and the heart
That with the fire of genius inly pines
May find the guidance of a kindred art,
And from the branch of that eternal tree
Pluck fruits at once of death and immortality!
1806 - 1870 USA
Objects which influence the ambitious nature
I. Trophies. – How Planted.
The trophies which shine out for eager eyes,
In youth’s first hour of progress, and delude
With promise dearest to ambitious mood,
Lie not within life’s limits, but arise
Beyond the realm of sunset; - phantoms bright
Glowing above the tomb, having their roots
Even in the worshipper’s heart; - from whence their fruits,
And all that thence grows precious to man’s sight!
Thence, too, their power to lure from beaten ways
That Love hath set with flowers, and thence the spell,
‘Gainst which the blood denied may ne’er rebel,
That leads to sleepless nights, and toilsome days,
And sacrifice of all those human joys
That to the ambitious nature seem but toys.
II. Where Planted.
It is the error of the impatient heart
To hope undying gifts, even while the strife
Is worst; and struggling ‘gainst its mortal part,
The glorious Genius laboring still for life,
Springs even from death to birth! ‘T is from his tomb
The amaranth rises which must wreathe his brow,
And crown his memory with unfading bloom;
Rooted in best affections, it will grow,
Though watered by sad tears, and watched by pride
Made humble in rejection! Love denied,
Shall tend it through all seasons, and shall give
Her never-failing tenderness, - though still
Be the proud spirit, and the unyielding will,
That through the mortal made the immortal live!
III. The Triumph
The grave but ends the struggle! – Follows then
The triumph, which, superior to the doom,
Grows loveliest, and looks best to mortal men,
Purple in beauty, towering o’er the tomb!
O, with the stoppage of the impulsive tide
That vexed the impatient heart with needful strife,
The soul that is Hope’s living leaps to life,
And shakes her fragant plumage far and wide!
Eyes follow then in worship which but late
Frowned in defiance; - and the timorous herd
That sleekly waited for another’s word
Grow bold at last to bring – obeying Fate –
The tribute of their praise but late denied, -
Tribute of homage which is sometimes – hate!
IV. Glory and Enduring Fame
Thus Glory hath her being! thus she stands
Star-crowned, - a high divinity of woe;
Her temples fill, her columns crown all lands
Where lofty attribute is known below.
For her the smokes ascend, the waters flow,
The grave foregoes his prey, the soul goes free;
The gray gives out music; hearthstones grow
To temples at her word; her footprints see
On ruins, that are thus made holiest shrines,
Where Love may win devotion, and the heart
That with the fire of genius inly pines
May find the guidance of a kindred art,
And from the branch of that eternal tree
Pluck fruits at once of death and immortality!