Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-01-08

And bark the midngk chime has ruDE TIE kneh
OF one mas dying - sSls
OF crime and virtue consummate and summed,
IT'S past. And now the historic muse prepares
Her ample roll-cold passionless, severe
To meet the verdict Of an age unborn.
How wide the STAGE What swiftly changing scenes !
How large the plot How many actors there
Here nations pass some, clad in wars bright steel,
And some in weeds of peaceful enterprise,
All striving hard for wealth, and power, and fame
All forming, by their public acts, each for Itself,
A character that changeess must endure
Thro' Times long track, for glory or for shame
IT'S solemn, sure, to gaze such sight,
oh how much more to form, ourselves, the scene
In this long pageant we the latest move,
And close the lengthening line of empires born.
Then ought we not to be the fairest birth
That ever broke on earth's enrapured gaze
Free-est of all, and dowerd with land
Where every gift of Heaven concentred stands,
O. should we not be wisest-noblest-be
If in our banner have set the stars,
Should we not be- ourselves, the Cynosure
Of Truths, of Freedoms, and of Virtues friends,
In every cline where reasons light is found
But pardon us a strain that seems too grave.
1t sprang from out the open sepulchre
OF the dead year.
Now, then, we lift our eyes
From the snow shroud of buried FoRTr -SEyEs,
And read the eptaph that marks his tomb
What find we here A martial blazonry
Of captured ensigus helms and spears, and Shields
And steeds caparisoned and charging hosts,
And forts, and citadels, and cities taen
" it'll silver trump, and shadowy wings on high,
Standing on shattered arms and corpses strewcd
Or piled in heaps upon the ensanguined plain,
With voice that dooms to Immortality,
There stands the tall and princess form OF FAME
In her far-seeing eye live future times,
And her wide thoughts embrace the world. On her
A thousand ardent eager Eyes are fixed,
AS tho she held their being on her breath
In her right hand, inscribed with names, roll,
Bright as the sun, waves dazzling to the wind,
With all her favor,e sons-'ts not for US
T. attempt the immortal list to glory given.
Enough that from our own loved hills and fields
Names dear TO every patriot heart shine there.
Nor shall we dare to scan the questions high
OF right, or policy, that mark the war.
For us, enough to know they bravely fought,
And, where their duty led, as bravely died.
grateful country has embalmed their deeds
Deep in her ssheart of hearts y and on the page
OF her ou-stiring story these shall live
While memory holds the sum of human things.
Nor shall these live alone. Upon this tomb
Hang civic wrcaths, fair and fresh as theirs
The ermncd Judge-the Statesman eloquent
The pure Divine--thc Bard, inspired Of Heaven,
With all the thoughtful band Of Science friends
These, in their various walks deserve as well
place among lov'd ones, the man
Who foremost scales the rampant wrapped in fame.
And now, loved Patrons, to whose door we come
Thro winters Interest storms and summers blaze,
Amid the genial feelings of the hour
Think Of the page we bring, and don't refuse
Some token kind from those that make il yours.