NEAR THIS ROCK

A. D. 1823-1825

WAS THE HOME OF SCHOOLMASTER

RALPH WALDO EMERSON

HERE SOME OF HIS EARLIER POEMS WERE WRITTEN; AMONG
THEM THAT FROM WHICH THE FOLLOWING LINES ARE TAKEN:

"O, WHEN I AM SAFE IN MY SYLVAN HOME,
I TREAD ON THE PRIDE OF GREECE AND ROME;
AND WHEN I AM STRETCHED BENEATH THE PINES,
WHERE THE EVENING STAR SO HOLY SHINES,
I LAUGH AT THE LORE AND PRIDE OF MAN,
AT THE SOPHIST SCHOOLS AND LEARNED CLAN
FOR WHAT ARE THEY ALL IN THEIR HIGH CONCEIT,
WHEN MAN IN THE BUSH WITH GOD MAY MEET?"