The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-11-07
OPENING ADDRESS
Written forthe opening ofthe Providence Theatre,
Monday evening, Oct. 29th, and spoken BY
Mas. MAEDER.

Monday evening, Oct. 29th, and spoken by
Mas. MAEDER
Hist! what strange influence hovers in the air1
Soft music breathes and festive torches glare,
A roseate light illumes the storied wall,
And youth and Beauty throng the lofty hall.
Lo, where the Drama, thro the gloom of night,
Bursts in soft splendor on the ravished sight!
All hail bright queen of fancy's fairy train;
Long lost, long mourned resume thy glorious reign
Can we forget when first, in chdhood's hour,
Our footsteps sought thy vsion.haunted bower1
When trembling, wondering, mid the enraptured
throng,
We quafed the tide of eloquence and song
Whlle stood revealed the creatures Of our dream,
Bright, breathing, palpable scarce could we deem
That earth confessed such beauty-to abide
With these were life-vain shadows all beside
o cold the hearts that. from such 'wchng sway
Could turn unmoved and passionless away!
But tho less genial from our western cline
To Arts bright reign, than when in olden time
Thy noblest influence filled Athenas halls,
While laundering piaudits shook her marble walls,
Yet have thy temples rose, thine altars smiled,
And far around thy clarion notes are borne,
Ere fade the'echoes of the huntsman's horn
Once more We bid thee welcome to our shores
Confess thy empire and assert thy cause
Again we hauntthy courts, throng roundthy shrine,
And pour soft incense TO the breathing Nine"
on when the wintry storms shall hurtle round,
Or silent snow fakes print the frozen ground
When the cold rain comes patterng the blast
And manlng clouds nights blazing hosts DER cast
Here shall we SIT in this enchanted hail.
While breathing thoughts and burning words"
enthral,
Regardless of the cold worlds sordid strife,
And all the hollow mmcrieS Of life
Where vainer actors idler pageants play,
And wear their masks in the broad eye Of day
Oft shall young beauty TO this shrine repair,
And manhood here cast off life's coiling care
Entranced and spe.bound by her potent sway,
Who calls " each slumbering passion INTO play
Exuing trembling, as her accents flow
In varying strains of triumph OF of woe
Now deck'd in smiles and now her brow DER fraush
With the pale cast Of melancholy thought
As if strange visions, lowering DER her rest,
Had chilled tn exulting liie-bood in her breast.
Far thro' the twilight visas of the past,
Where gathering years their cloudy manilcs cast
OF turns her cage eye, and at It's glance, |
The shadows vanish from that dear o1pansc-
Lo al her gaze night melleth into day,
And the dark mist Of ages rolls away q
Each old romantic region hath she traced.
And gathered many floweret fr ON the waste,
Which fancy nurtured with her sones dcws,
While wit and W isdom lent their golden hues.
She hath called spirits from the vastly deep,
Reused kingsand heroes from their dreamless sleep
Restored the scenes of n chivarous age,
Where knighty forms heroic conflicts wage,
The vclor's triumph OH the cnsangulned field,
The plume, the penon, and the blazoned shield -
With trembling hands hath drawn aside the pail q
To find new jewels for her coronal - I
Babe the dead lovers clay cold bosom glow,
And the slain warrior meet once more his foe,
And caused them for night on earth to roam, a
Then pass like specnes to their silent home.
And now she comes with all her shadowy train,
TO hold her court within this gorgeous lane :,
Hero her bright banner iearlessy unfurlS, q
And scorns the pointless shaft the bgot hurls. II
lurc are her means, her high intent sublime,
To cherish virtue and deter from crime, n
With loltiest themes 10 rouse the languid heart, c
And stern reproof with subtle grace impart n
To wake the noble love of well-eaned fame,
And teach the glory of deathless name. 9
She shows how heroes lived and martyrs died.
And fills the exulting breast with god-llke pride
That such high energies to man are given,
To conquer earth and opc the gates of heaven.
Such themes new vigor to the heart supply,
Flush every cheek and light up every eye
Whoher in gorgeous drapery she is seen
Moving before us like an empires queen,
Or closed in all the majesty of woe,'
Bids beauty's tears like molten diamonds glow,
Or wrea thed in smiles, with soft scducng glance,
Makes the warm le-blood ,hro' your pulses dance;
Still ever beautiful she meets the sight
Taking all shapes to furnish new delight
Forever changing, yet forever true
To one fond aiu,-approving smiles from yo"
Long may those smiles our virgin temple grace,
And Shaks kspeares spirit hallow all the place
JAMES ID. SEABURS
MrDrII MN rpAunD