The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-09-03

THE VISION OF LIBERTY.

by HENRY WARE, yR.


ny HENRY WARE, yR
Inc evening heavens were calm and bright;
No dimncSS rested on the glittcring light,
tIai Spaklcd from that wilderness of worlds on .
high;
Those distant suns burned on with quiet ray ; !
The placid planets held their modest way; |
And sSenee reigncd profound DER crrth, an,,
sea. and sky.
On what an hour ofloftt thought
My spirit burned within caught
holy Inspiration from the hour.
Around ne man and npturc slcpt:
Alone my solemn watch kept,
TIL morning dawncd, and slecp resumed bcr
power.
vision passed upon mt soul.
still was gazing up to heaven,
As in the ca;!y hours of even;
] still bchcld the planets roll.
And all those countless sons of light
Elaine from the broad blue arch, and cuiln ,I,o
moonlcss night.
When 10! upon tic plain,
just where it skhts the swelling main
massive castle, far and high,
IN towering grandeur broke upon nv eve.
tro"' l" It's strength aud years, the pondcrous
pile
Flung up i'll timc-detying towers;
ITS lofty gates seemed scornrury to smi,o
Nnin ..Il
And threats and arnla dc,idc
~ gorgeous cmyiRgS Of hcr,.dlic pIiLc,
la giant masses giaccd the walls above
And dungeons yawncd below.
let ivcy there and moss their garlands wove
Grave, silent chIuniclers of times protroctod
fow
bursting on my stcadfrSt gaze,
See, within, n sudden blaze!
20 small at first, the zephyr's slightest swell
Ihat scarcely stirs the pinc.tgcc ton
Nor makes the withcrcd leaf to dYcp
The feeble tluttcring of that flame would oucII,
But soon il spread
Waving, rushing fierce and red
Kaging with rcsistlcss power:
Till every fcrvent pillar glowcd,
And every stone seemed burned to coal,
Instinct with living heat that flowed
''iNe streaming radiance from tlc kind!cd
pole.
bcantifnf, fearful, grand,
silent as death, / saw the fabric stand
AT length cracking sound began:
from s'de to side, throughout the pile it ra.,:
And louder yet and louder grew,
'iIi now in rattimg thnndcrpcaIs it grew:
'"Sc SNhVcrcd fragments from the pillars
broke,
Like fiery sparklcs from tho anvrs strol,c
The shattered walls were rent and riycn
And piecemcal driven.
Like blazing comets through the troubled
sky.
lis done; what centuries had rcarcd,
an quick explosion disappeared,
Nor even its ruins met my wandering eve.
But in their place
bright with more than human grace,
''N"S' IA HlOlc IMAM mortal seeming
Radiant glory in her face,
And eyes with heavens own bricb,n.se
bcamng-
Rose fair majestic form,
AS the mild rainbow from the storm.
marked her smile, knew her eve.
And when, with gesture of command.
She waved aloft the cap-crowned wand
My slumbcrs fled mid shouts of "Libcrtv,"
Head We the dream and know yc not
How truly II unlocked the world of fate
Went not the flame from t!i,. ilIIstrious s,ot
Ana burns it not, and barns in every state?
And when their old and cumbrous walls,
Filled with this spirit, glow intense.
Nainly they reared tkeir impoteiR defence.
The fabric falls!
That fcrvcnt energy must spread
Till despotism's towers be overthrovn.
And in their stead,
Liberty stands alone
Hasten the day, just Heaven!
Accomplish Thy design;
Ana let the blessings thou hast freely given,
Freely on all men shine;
I'LL equal rights be equally enjoyed,
And human power for human good employed:
I'LL law, not man, the sovereign rule main
tain,
And peace and virtue undisputcd reign
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