The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1845-02-12
ORIGINAL POETRY.
For the CGdis Sentinel.
TEIE WONDERFUL SCHOOL.
BY THE LEYDoN A R

Five ar-famed Bards, the fondly prided boast
U their own land, as well the earth beside,
Lived in a fruitful age just past and gone,
Genius and intellect of purest mould
Fine phrensy fashioned from the breath of Heaven
In vast profusion crowned each gifted mind.
Each wooed the MUSES. after his own mood,
With various motives, and conflicting whims;
And each alike gave proof before the world
That his devoted end had b zen attained.
The first he wrote for never-dying Fame,
And well he might-she heard his mournful prayer,
Aud answered it with her loud trumpet-tongue.
Fist wanton school-boy fame, that youth inspires
Md early passions, till its feeble glow,
Long fondled by a mild, inspiring breeze,
Bursts forth in glazing flashes wild and bright.
Twas blissful music to his youthful ear,
And thrill'd his heart with notes of happiness.
Blu. sooni its charms pass'd hurriedly Away
Uned, it quickly fell-eclipsed, it died.
Next fatal fame he madly wooed and WON
That fame the phrensied a~spirant desires
Toquench the craving appetite which burns
Incssantly within-fatal because
Its oath is so, and sorrow its reward.
Another leap he took, and deeper plunged
Within the current of the sweeping stream;
And soon it t1oated him past all return
On 0 the centre ofthe dread abyss.
Again he struggled-'twas his last attempt;
Forfame's resplendant haven now could boast
The barque Of this distinguished mariner.
Ofbim twas said, by one who knew full well,
Wits wrote in favor ofbis wickedness.
And kings to do him honor took delight"
The next for lucre spent his cheerful lie
God, %glitt'fing gold, and tempting silver too,
Came tinkling as he waved his magic wand.
Sweet were his numbers, and his harp
Poured forth such melodies, that every ear
Heard it entranced, with lingering delight.
lis tone was healthy, and the flowing draught
Which millions from the luscious cascade drank,
Made millions wiser, better and more blest,
His busy labors were rewarded we'll
Wealth! Riches! Fane! were truly all his own .
t. can't be certain how the truth may be,
But tell the tale as it was told to me-"
That every flourish of his hasty pen
Brought so much gold within its costly wake.
The next designed to live in doing well;
And long the worlds attested to the good
He has performed. Philanthropy meier cleaned
With brighter smiles, and more p~ropitious days,
Than when he stood upon fair Zion's walls,
And with the lofty music of his verse
LuIled sin to sleep, and cheered the christians task,
His happy works in bold relief remain,
"Rising like Medals mountains crowned with wood
And shed atar an awful light sublime -
The fourth attuned his graceful sounding Tyre
AS oftyimpulse spoke with sovereign tone,
And 'rOused the silence of his sweet-tongued muse.
He Z" asked not proud philosophy to teach"
His grasping mind the beauties nature clasped,
But in the shining mirror of his soul
Beheld reflected there in grand display
Creations lovely charms in miniature,
And sung but these with eIoquence divine,
From thevast fountain where his fancy played
Instruction, love, and inspiration flowed.
Whilst every ear that fingered near the spot
Heard on, heard eagerly, and longed yet moro.
The other wrote, because he had to write
A wat'fyreason, but a sound excuse
Although be was - ma poet in a sense,''
And had 40 learning ia pretence,' at all,
Yet none e'er studied with more joy profound
The poets alphabet, or understood
So well the simple strains which nature taught.
" The simple bard, rough at the rustic plough,
Leaning his tunelul trade at every bough,"
He filed with purest draughts his humble soul
Unmingled with the brine of artiul schools
And taught mankind as he but understood
Those HeaVen-born whispeIs-not as others taught.
The skiiul tutors of this wondrous school
Have closed their sessions, and departed hence
The way of all the earth, meier to return,
We yet remain behind TO view their works
How long, there's none SO wondrous wise can tell
And oft may ask our judgments to proclaim
Whose mission was the ~happiest. to man?
This clouded problem dares solution still,
And long may yet defy the human mind.
Amid their labor-such a vast array -
There's lore for countless ages yet to come;
And in the tow'ring monument they've built
There is much good, but boundless emil too !!
MARSHALL College, .Mercersburg, Pa.