Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-07-15
poetieal.
TRIBUTE TO CLAY.


Tspas, Deaths arrow, with hshighes, flight,
Has pierced shining mark, nations pride.
That noble firm, which once was animate
With the deep pulses Of q nature strong,
| Tue, genrous, lofty In Its every aim,
Now pale, at,rL uaie, wends iis fnnl wsy
| To its last resting place. See where II comes !
| No, us In other days WHEN ON the path
| OF him, the nations idol, thousands thTonged
Aud rent the air with their eSultant shouts
! OF welcome now a nations mourufnl sigh
| Breaks the deep silence and its welling tears
Water the way where passes the sad train
Hear ye him On twas meet that he should TALL
Upon the battle field Of his great life,
lis meet his dust should hnd its long repose
Upon the spot most hallowed to his heart,
| For there aIe ties, more sat red cen Than iho.e
Which bend the patriot TO his native land,
Let him repose where II wife's faithful hand
May sadly plant the cypress that shall wave
Above his honoured tomb, and 6liallo love
Cherish each fond memorial, when she
Shall rest in peace beside him.
Shades Of our country's sires! Ye whose strong
hands
Laid deep the firm foundations OF the State.
Aud reared, amidst onvulsng elements,
This glorious structure, with proportions grand,
And fair, the admiration Of a world,
Receive him to your seats lie comes. your peer !!
lie comes, who spent his wond'rous enerties,
And the rich treasures Of heart that glowed
With patIotsms purest, hOlest name,
To strengthen, beauty and to defend
From fierce assault the fabric ye had built.
lie whose life's brilliant dawn, meridian glory,
And calm unclouded eve, were all his countrys.
Full nobly won he the grea, sta,esman'g name,
A.J hrn, he mi riots
hut is he dead Can then such greatness die
Is he whose mighty voice once woke the soul
OF Greece from its luxurious slumber, when
The dmly nickering light Of Liberty
Was paling to extinction ;-OT is he
Before whose bold, indignant eloquenes,
Base treason He'd ubashed from Rome's proud walls.
Are they whose tongues gave thrilling uiierauce
To the deep purpose Of their fearless hearts,
And turned the scale, when II hung equipoised
Between resistance stern, or mean submission
For foul oppression's wrongs, are these all dead
No, that which wns their sum Of life, their words,
Their deeds, their great example, these
Were not with them entombcd, by these they live
Anever fresh, ever expanding life.
Thus shall he live, whom now a nation mourns,
A. 'twere the sorrow Of one mighty heart,
Long as a spark Of freedoms fire shall glow,
Whether in brightness on her chosen altars,
Or family glimm'ring through expressions gloom.
And should again the dark portentous clouds
Ofdsoord, and disunion, thrsat'nng lower,
And hnrl their lnrd lighnings nt the shrine
Which treasures freedoms last and fondest hopes,
Then shall his name, who late with snowy locks
And brow deep furrowed by the hand oftime,
Yet stood erect, breasting the furious storm,
And with his arm neryed with the gathered strength
Ola whole life caught the descending bolt,
And cast IL spent and harmless 10 the ground
he, on the patriots tongue, potent spell
To hush the raging elements, to bid
The deep o'erpalling gloom dispsrse, and chow
Blest Urion's radis nj and peace rly.
Genius of History innesible,
Severe, and just, TO thee do we consign
His honorrd name. Thine be the sacred task
To hold It up in its untarnished lusre
To wipe away the last, the f,intest breath
OF cuunny, de,raction, Jealous, hate,
And all tn envenomed brood that ever crawl
Kissing, and siingug in the path oi greatness;
That when those shall have passed, WAC once had
known 80
The magic charm Of his deep svery tones,
Whosc souls had warmed at the perennial fire
OF his 50 ardent nature who had drank
snbIimrst thoughts, and pprrst aspir ations,
From his e>hnus'l-ss fount, and felt their hearts
Linked to him b. fra,srnal ties when these
Shall be no more, the living still may sre,
Bright as the brightest names on hstry's page
OF those who served and honoured well their race,
The statesman. patriot, christian, Hsn'y Cioy.
| Newport Juiy s, 1852.
Oct.