Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1875-07-22
19Oetrp.
Morituri Salutamus.

Morituri Salutamus.
BY HENRY W. LoNGFELLow.
Tempora labuntur, tactisque scimHs annis
III iueiuBt lTenO non Temorante dies.
OVID, FaSt0rHDl. Lib. vi.
''Oh CESAR, we who are about TO die
( Salute you" was the gladiators' cry
/ In the arena, standing face to face
/ With death and with the Roman populace,
We familiar scenes-ye groves of pine
hat once were mine and are no longer mine
Thou river. widening through the meadows
green
I To the vast sea. so near and yet unseen
e halls, in whose >eclusion and rcpose
PhaEtoms of fame like exhalations rose
And yani>hed-we who are about to die
Salute YOU earth and air and sea and sky.
And the imperial sun that scatter. down
III, sovereign splendors upon grove and town.
le do not answer Us We do not hear,
/ We are forgotten; and in your austeTe
And calm Indifference, We little care
" neither We come or go. or whence or where
What passing generations nil these halls,
W hat passing voices echo from these walls.
le heed not, we are only as the blast.
\ moment heard, and then forever past.
Not 50 the teachers who in earlier davs
Led our bewiidered feet through learning's
maze:
They answer us-alas. what have / said:
hat greetings come there from the yOiceless
dead:
What >auiaiion, welcome, or reply:
W hat pressure from the hands that lifeless lie.
They are no longer here; they all are gone
Into the land Of shadOws-all save one.
Honor and reverence, and the good repute
lhat follow. faithful service it, fruit.
he unto him, whom living we salute.
The great Italian poet. when we made
nls dreadful Journey to realms OF shade.
Met there the old Instruct or of his youth.
And cried in tones of pity and Of ruth
80 never from the memory of my heart
our dear. paternal imsge shall depart
no while on carth,ere yet by death surprised,
Taught me how mortal, are immortalized:
How grateful am for that patient care
All my life long my language shall declare"
To-day We make the poets words our own.
And utter them in pantiye undcr-tone;
Nor 10 the living only be they said,
Bui 10 the other living called the dead.
W hose dear. paternal images appear
Not wrapped IN gloom, but robcd in sunshine
here;
Whose simple lives. complete and without
flaw.
Were part and parcel Of great Natures law;
ho said not 10 their Lord. n if afraid.
here J. thy talent IN napkin laid,
but labOred in their sphere. a. those who live
In the delight that work alone can give.
ieace be 70 them; eternal peace and rest,
ANA the iulnllncnt Of the great brhtst,
y e have been faithful over a few things,
over ten cities shall ye reign king"
And We who fill the places We once filled.
And follow in the burrows that We titled.
Young men, whose generou, hearts are beat
lng hIgn.
We who are old. and are about to die,
saiut" you hail you take Your hands in ours.
And crown you with our welcome L. with
flower,
How beautiful i youth! how bright il CLEANS
MIN IT. illusions. aspirations. dreams,
Book Of Beginnings. Story without End
bach maid = heroine. and each man a friend.
Aladdin. Lamp, and Fortunatu,' Purse.
hat holds the treasure, of the universe.
All possibilities are in it, hands
No danger daunt- il. and no foe with,tands;
In IT, sublime audaciiy OF faith,
lie thou removed" II 10 the mountain saith,
Ana WIN ambitious feet, secure and proud
Ascend, the ladder leaning on the cloud
A. ancient Priam at the sc.ean gate
Sat on the walls OF Troy in regal state
W IN The old men. too old and weak to fight.
Ihirping like gra>-hopper- in their delight
10 see the einbatiled hosts, with spear and
shield,
OF TrojAn- and Achaian- in the field:
20 from The snowy submits of our wear.
We see you III the plain. : each appears
Ana question OF you: asking. Nv ho i. he
/ nat towers above the others: Which lnay be
Atreide>. Menelaus. Obys>eu.
AJAX the great, or bold Idomeneus:'
Let him not boast who put- his armor on
A. ne who puts II of. the battle done.
Stuus yourselves and most of all note well
herein kind Nature meant YOU TO excel
Not every blossom ripens into fruit:
Minerva. the inyentTe-s of the flute
Iung IL aside, when she her face SURVEYED
distorted IN fountain as she PLAYED:
Inc unIucky Mar,ya> found il. and his fate
was one TO make the brayest hesitate
write on your doors the saving wise and old.
BE bold. be bold. aud every where be bold:
- Be not too bold. Yet better the excess
man The defect; better the more than less:
Better like Hector in the field TO die.
Ihan like perfumed Paris turn ana fly.
And new, my classmates: We remaining few
ihal number not the half OF those we knew,
le, against whose familiar names not vet
Inc fatal asteri.k Of death is set.
le salute. The horologe Of Time
strikes The hali-century with solemn chime
ANA simmons Us together once again,
Inc JOY ot meeting not unmiXed with pain.
Where are the others: Voices from the deep
Caferns OF darkness answer me "They seeD,''
! name no names; instinctiyely feel
Each at some well-remembered grave will
kneel,
And from the inscription wipe the weeds and
moss.
For every heart best knoweth its own loss.
see me scattered graye-stones cleaning
white
Through the pale dusk of the impe ndng mig
Ger all alike the impartial sunset throws
its golden lilies mingled with the rose:
We give to all a tender thought and pass
out oi the grave-yards with their tangled grass
MO these scenes frequented by our feet
aY,ll e. 4
sweet.
hat shall sayto you: What can say
better than silence is! When | survey
ms tllrong of faces turned TO meet my own
Friendly and fair, and yet 10 me unknown,
Transformed the very landscape seems TO be
IL l. The same yet not the same to me-
20 many memories crowd upon NV brain.
30 many ghosts are IN the wooded plain
IAN would steal away, with noiseless tread
As from house where some one lieth dead.
can not go 81 pause; Il hesitate;
Ny feet reluctant linger at the gate
a As one who struggles in troubled dream
10 speak and cannot, to myself SEEM
Vanish the dream. Vanish the idle fears,
ahlsh The rolling mists of fifty years
Whatever time or space may intervene
l VIII not be stranger in this scene
Here every doubt, all indecision ends.
haii' my companions, comrades, classm ates
friends.
An me the fifty years since last we met
seem TO me fifty folios bound and set
BY time, the great Transcriber on his shelves
Wherein are written the histories of ourselves.
' Wha. iraSedies, what comedies, are there;
nat JOY ana grief, what rapture and despair
what chronicles of triumph and defeat,
VI struggle, and temptation, and retreat.
what records of regrets. and doubts and fears
What pages blotted, blistered by our tears.
VI W na. IoNeIy landscapes on the margin shine,
What sweet, angelic faces, what divine
Ana hoiy images of love and trust,
nndiinined by age, unsoiled by damp or dust
whose hand shall dare to open and explore
These volumes closed and clasped for ever
more.
Not mine. With reverential feet pass.
hear voice that cries, ALAS alas.
hafe eN-ar hath hoot L.