Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-11-18
THE PARALLEL.


Its homes its temples, and its halls Of state.
Right in the midst of Rome gulf had oped
From east TO west, mysterious and slow,
1t wider stretched its earthquake jaws apart,
And mutered, 6 Ruin wo swift wo to Rome =
Meanwhile not all unheard the peoples prayer.
A word Of wisdom vouchsafed TO them.
The Seer came forth. and with the awful front
OF one who hath had speech with the high gods,
And knows IT. uttered thus the Oracle
g All must end here; yon widening chasm will yaIn,
Insatiae, FOR its destined pey nor close
Until great Rome hath ceased from of the earth,
Unless with accord, ye quick throw IN
The choicest and most precious things We have
Then, with sudden horror frozen, stood
That human sea, still a merde g'ace ...
Amid the mighty Alps, when through the heavens
The thunder of an avalanche dies away
Twas but moment outslep'd YOUTH
And gaining with a bound the temples porch,
Spake to the crowd these few heart-kindlirg words
"What have of most precious gold wine gems
Houses. and garments and fair women Nay
Rome's brave are her jewels; nought but blood,
The best of blood Of her noblest sons will
Follow me, then, We that worihest.'
Then went they after him, the chosen youths
Riding on horses, and with helm and spear,
And into that great gulf leaped with a shout
Which sraightway closing eagerly on all,
Old Rome was saved. ss1 The legend endeth here.
Come home, my thoughts, come home
oh, my lov'd country Oh, my own great land
Whose head doth rest mid SHOWS, while either hand
Plays with an oceans foam,
And graspeth mountain chains:
Whose fair feet in Southern fields straying,
All chimes bring garments for thy proud arraying,
All nations seek thy plains
The worlds heart worshps thee
Thy star CLEANS brightest in thy days MON,
And Hope for Earth possible, twin-born
With thy great Unity
And ONE thou still must be.
One, thy Rirer, rapid, Deep and wide,
Gathers his watery wealth from every side
Even SO Earh's mingled blood, in one full tide,
Flows nightly in thee;
And yet, from shore 10 shore,
We see ''great gulf" opening, broad and deep,
And North and South are pressing towards its steep
To perish evernore
Men Of the North forbear
Urge this conflict, in the Of right
lis but spurious conscience, iatuous light,
That leads you thus TO dare
This horrid quits dark
Division will devour no partial prey;
Ii is no, aiven either side 10 say,
''Thoa oily ruin know :"
On proud, high Southern hearts,
Skunk, shriak from this g'eat pcTils agony
Sule at the bitter thoughts tina, he
Like fiery, ranking da'ts,
Fikd in your nmost soul!
A sense of il. jury, Of wrong, of weakness,
Bidding You spurn ell reasoning, all meekness.
Too jealous Of control
How can yc I've apart
Southron with Scu,hron link'd North self sustained
For every contes; won, is ruin gained.
Ye have one ccmm1n heart,
One common destiny
One lfe.strcam circIc,h in your swelling veins,
Born with one struggles awful renjng pairs,
With one death must ye die
Yet ye close this chasm !
Fling in your precious things more dear than life,
Your pledged honor. patriotism, bate Of strife,
With warm enthusiasm
The memory Of your dead;
Your glorious dead who, North and South, their blood
Mingled in battle, meath one banner stood,
BY one great Leader led
Spirit OF compromise,
That like tie white. winged dove DER chaos moving.
Stlie:h the angry waves Of party, proving
How loving, jus, and wise
Those first great councils were,
That, in this spirit, built the compact strong,
Which, site Of prejudice, and wrath, and wrong,
Staudelb and still is here.
Oh, young, true, trusting heats
Your best LIES lie must Us, for the old
Have grown awesry, selfish, hardened, cold,
IN politicians arts.
7hsy do not sec the fate
Thai glsres on The Republic blind with PRIDE
They hope ia triumph DER this wreck to stride
To higher seats Of safe.
For, always must the age
Trust ia her YourH, the heirs of her old glory.
Their act can change TO an heroic story
Their coun,y's blacklist page.
Alas the visions DER.
The prophecy failcth, the Ear future lies
MurEy and dim, and crue, TO mine eyes,
That ache yet
NEw YoRE, 0cronFR 30.