Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1845-10-16
From the Provide nee Journal
Mr.. Brooks Phi Beta Kappa Poem.

A Poem, pronounced before the Phi
Beta Kappa Society AT Cambridge, AN
gust 90, l845. BY Charles i. Brooks.
Boston Charles G. Little e. James i.
Brown, 1845.
This poem, which is published at the
request OF the authors classmates, has
merits sufficient to commend II TO any
readers Of good taste, whilst its full pow
er cannot be appreciated without some
knowledge Of the circumstances under
which il was prepared and spoken. II is
heartfelt and beautiful tribute OF an ac-
complished scholar to the university at
which he was educated. As he thinks
of his Alma Mater and prepares to obey
her Bidding, his muse brings before him
the three forms of Poetry, Learning and
Liberty, and thus the patriot, the schol-
ar, and the poet, speak in turn.
The poem is well sustained throughout,
varying from grave TO gay, marked alike
by paihos and humor, presenting many
fine thoughts in verso remarkably finish
ed and dction singularly exquisite.
The classic reader may see a! once that
Mr.. Brooks has not studied Homer and
Horace, Schiller and Goethe, in vain.-
Some passages are perfect mosaics in
the perfection Of their finish. Who that
has been on Newport Beach will not adj
mire the truthfulness and power Of this
graphic picture, which aims to sketch
the authors position when the letter Of
invitation came TO him from Cambridge
az 4 ha. kra, fail, al
Y our laureate bard, immortal for a day
All, needless, hspless me ] roamed along,
Well pleased with Natures great unwrtten
song.
By sandy margin ana on beetling verge
stopped md heard the music Of the surge;
Old Oceans everlasting organ-r0ar,
The roll OF Nepiunes chariot on the shore;
The grim, gigantic pillows ecstacy,
Now greedy believing, and now mad with gloe:
I heard the gnrgling Of the rcfluent wave
Wash down the pebbly floor Of many a cnve
The saddening, soothing, melancholy moan
or sullen breakers, and the trumPtt'tone
or wiDtry wuds, the signal Of the shock,
When laundering surges charge the embattled
rock;
marked where, rank on rank tho waves roll 10
Up the broad beach their grand and martial din,
With hish-curved neck the snowy sea. sieeds
champ
saw tho long and gIttsring lines advance,
Toss back their sPray'manes IN tho noontides
The hollow blast, tho surEdrum's grnh, low
beat,
Sounding, tho while, each onset and retreat,-
Crhan baitls.music, ., how nobler far
The harmoncs of elemental war y
Listening such sounds, and ,he canorous chat
Ofgabbins sea-fowl undisiurbcd that sato
t,..is- faI m he nj
Making n clansor like Cuysiran cranes
Heard by old Homer, ,-aimless and alono
As thus | wandered, drinking in each tone
OF many voiced ocean, "fancy free
A little, white.wingcd land bird came TO mo
Forth from well.known dove.cuts where, leach
day,
Whole hocks OF paPor-pigeons wont TO strny,
A nd where, in all the pigeon holes they crowd,
Thick as the snow flakes from the wiDtry
clood,
Or dawes that lv to dows,-thcnce impart
Their messages to many a hut,ering heart:
T. en- such a bird il was that came 10 me,
As careiessly ] paced along The sea
A bird of message from this classic ground,
And whispered IN my ear an omnous sound
We are very happy at every indica-
iion Of literary ability in our neighbors.
We congratulate our friends in New
port upon having among them a man
whose modest worth as a citizen and
whose devotedness as n clergyman they
will respect none the less for the honors
he may win in the walks Of elegant lit
piature. When there are men among
us of gifts so decided as his, there seems
little need Of resor'ing TO far fetched dul-
ness and mediocrity to supply our literary
wants.