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SOCIETY 
 
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 PRINTED BY JOHN P. PRALL, 9 SPRUCE-ST. 
 
 1851. 
 
 

 Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1861, by 
 
 JOHN P. PRALL, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern 
 
 District of New-York. 
 
 / 
 
 X y^ ■ V 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Society, - - - - - - 5 
 
 The Church, ----- 59 
 
 Columbia, - - - - - - 105 
 
 The Blind, - - - - - 157 
 
 Wall-Street, - - - - - - 201 
 
SOCIETY. 
 
 CANTO I. 
 
 Oh ! ever blest the sweet home be, the dear household hearth ; 
 May peace and love and joy in its precincts ever dwell, 
 And Eighteousness from it's sanctuary spread on Earth. 
 
 But it is of Society we now have to tell, 
 
 Many families grouped in one, in the Social bond. 
 And they all seeking to flourish and grow and do well. 
 
 Much people together dwelling, their wants correspond 
 To the industry employs them, and means to enjoy ; 
 And of work, to their wants ministers, they become fond : 
 
 Together labor and enjoyment do not annoy, 
 
 They in neighborhood live, and one the other supplies 
 With the fruit or the staple or the fabric or toy ; 
 
 Or pleasure or instruction, to be merry or wise, 
 
 Or be better ; and thus a brotherhood they compose 
 Till the village, town or city, or nation, uprise : 
 
8 
 
 And some laws for them all do they in either dispose. 
 Then Citizenship and Patriotism take their start 
 And kinder feeling and fellowship among them grows. 
 
 Their wants and their labors soon beget each its art, 
 And a kind emulation among them to excel, 
 That are impulse to improve them in mind and in heart 
 
 Soon their exigencies to fill, leads to buy and to sell ; 
 And opens the merchant, in every suitable grade : 
 And many occupations, to a catalogue swell ; 
 
 To suit their pleasure or needs all by means of some trade ; 
 And they all thriving, and living in plenty and peace. 
 Instruction of the Youth, a profession soon is made, 
 
 Rewarded by the others from their labor's increase ; 
 And the worship of Grod will have its own proper class, 
 For all their days undertaking it till they decease. 
 
 A zeal in their employments to one another surpass, 
 Conduces to excellence, and to improve them all : 
 And y'cleped all. Society ; comprehending the mass. 
 
 A Social Being is man, and much loves he to call 
 On his brethren, the kind neighborly visit to pay, 
 To inquire of their welfare, of the great and the small ; 
 
9 
 
 And to discourse on the topics most rife of the day ; 
 Compare all experience, and the lesson^ they learn 
 In their different rounds to one another convey ; 
 
 And their several fresh wisdom to some profit turn ; 
 The converse very pleasant then, affection more grows 
 And with a kind friendship they reciprocally yearn. 
 
 And onward of good offices the interchange flows. 
 Awakens too love, by the provision for it fraught 
 In the twofold estate with it mutually glows : 
 
 A sentiment that will scarcely admit to be taught. 
 And to enjoy, the Providence commends to be true. 
 That in the nature hath effect, to love we be brought. 
 
 Ample provision have we, our whole life to imbue 
 With continual gratefulness, and timely delights : 
 The resource in us abounding, and our wants but few. 
 
 Whatever we turn us to, there is somewhat requites ; 
 For any change we are craving, the world amply large ; 
 And wonderfully varied in its ways and its sights : 
 
 The whole before us all open, and put in our charge. 
 We all may stay where we are, and be happy at home ; 
 Or the world over may we roam, and our mind enlarge ; 
 
10 
 
 Sped by steam on the iron track, or through ocean's foam. 
 
 The whole Earth is to us given, our own broad domain ; 
 
 And we may under it dig, to where dwelling the Gnome : 
 In liberty are, and in it able to remain ; 
 
 All our life may be happy, and afterward still more ; 
 
 May always take of the Good, and us in it sustain ; 
 And full assurance have, dying, to Heaven we soar. 
 
 We but have in the Truth to be resolute and strong, 
 
 And taking us death, takes where happier than before ; 
 Ever happy Society, till go to the wrong ; 
 
 And it now in the wrong, we have alas ! to depict ; 
 
 Nor yet less of interest to the theme will belong. 
 It went at first into wrong by the evil fruit picked ; 
 
 And still in it stays, for is of the same picking still ; 
 
 And the sweat of the brow coming, the wrong did inflict : 
 To our bread thence procure for us, the ground was to till. 
 
 Society dwells in cities, villages and towns, 
 
 And wherever our Human kind together come will ; 
 And in evil from bottom now, to the top that crowns. 
 
 A busy various aspect among us it wears ; [frowns ; 
 
 With n^any smiles decked at times is, and sometimes with 
 
ii . 
 
 And very much is its bosom distracted with cares ; 
 
 Behind lagging confidence, and distrust in the van ; 
 
 Beset the ways commonly with insidious snares. 
 And to get the advantage, in business the plan. 
 
 Many laws are there made by it to punish for crime ; 
 
 Only Power protects Property for every man : 
 Friendship not very common, and only for a time ; 
 
 The watchmen all the day, and also watchmen by night. 
 
 Look out for the wicked in working hours and pastime ; 
 Nor incorruptible are, as to be ought and might. 
 
 A great many classes undertaking to instruct. 
 
 More slowly waxes Wisdom yet than folly is spright : 
 Who the offices hold, and all proceedings conduct, 
 
 Though they not always blameless, yet themselves do not blame ; 
 
 And sometimes, of its feathers is the Public Goose plucked. 
 Less the act, than exposure of it, induces shame ; 
 
 And conviction or punishment, fights wary defence ; 
 
 Wealth and Power do not wear always a right good name : 
 And our diversions lean mostly to gratify sense. 
 
 We take not much heed, that we Immortal Beings are. 
 
 And all accountable also when going from hence ; 
 And that to Heaven, of evil any fondness. Bar. 
 
CANTO 11. 
 
 Always happy may the man be here, and yet the call 
 
 To go hence, he without reluctance or fear obey ; 
 
 Nor terror it have for him to go under the Pall : 
 And Death certainly comes, and Death will take us away ; 
 
 But to a triumph will take, if we will it to be : 
 
 And to keep this in mind I do earnestly you pray. 
 Oh ! friends, to recover Society, we agree : 
 
 We are all delving here now, when we ought to be soaring. 
 
 And slaves do we make of us, who were born to be free. 
 Over books have no wisdom, are many of us poring : 
 
 And studying are mostly what our fellows are doing ; 
 
 Very swiftly our days, months and years all, we are scoring, 
 But pleasure and vanity, too many of us wooing ; 
 
 And though busy, not wisely ; for we do not grow wise ; 
 
 Not with Righteousness shod are we, nor with it are shoeing 
 Striving busily indeed, but not for the high Prize : 
 
 And though Immortal we yonder, yet mortal are here ; 
 
 To the grave each one goes, and each one from it will rise. 
 
13 
 
 And here have we to educate to live in that sphere : 
 That our principal business, and not to delay. 
 From our sleep then awake let us, and begin to fear ; 
 
 At Society, look, and reform it while we may. 
 For the example among us, or of old, not fit 
 Are, to longer be followed and we still go astray : 
 
 A better is to make by us, and better transmit 
 To the after us coming, and them now in it set : 
 In the darkness of old time, no longer let us sit : 
 
 Nor look, or more care, for it, than its wisdom to get. 
 Let us look after Wisdom, and all go in its ways. 
 And better riches then get, than to pile now we fret ; 
 
 The great Prize that seeks Society now, and displays, 
 A Jewel, we hoping them, but that grasping they sting : 
 A drag on our days, and when we going, behind stays. 
 
 In the Bosom Divine did a desire of erst spring 
 To have children of its nature to share in its bliss ; 
 And the Angel appears, of the ethereal wing ; 
 
 And that Bosom so soothed then was, as soothes love the kiss 
 
 Society, in Heaven then, and loving and pure ; 
 
 Dwelling in all happiness, for none doing amiss, 
 2 
 
14 
 
 No fleck of the Evil, nor any list to its lure ; 
 
 The Truth guarding Love's fountains with so rigid a care, 
 
 That the evil not even by conjecture iniire ; 
 And all keeping them transparently spotless and fair. 
 
 But God would the Heavens with Beauty diversify, 
 
 And people with worlds the circumambient space rare : 
 " In the beginning God created the Earth and" sky, 
 
 And a garden on the Earth then in due time He planted : 
 
 And man set He in it, to his fidelity try. 
 The garden was a Paradise, to behold enchanted. 
 
 Fruits and flowers there abounding, on the tree and the bush ; 
 
 And freely the permission was, to take of them, granted. 
 But in midst of them all, and as it were in ambush. 
 
 Was a fruit that to taste of, they put under restraint ; [push : 
 
 For death it would bring, and from the garden would them 
 In the midst of the trees, in them all it would paint 
 
 Risk, in fruit taking, to know Good and Evil ; and taught 
 
 In all taking of fruit, to shun of evil the taint 
 That in plucking unwisely, invariably fraught ; 
 
 And the Truth for our happiness, the counsel contained. 
 
 Of knowledge the tree was, and of evil knowledge brought 
 
15 
 
 Its fruit they partook, nor in Paradise they remained : 
 
 Nor ever into it thereafter might they retm-n 
 
 Till to dwell there, fruit not taking in such wise, they trained. 
 Irrevocable, of Medes and Persians the law, we learn, 
 
 The law of the Paradise irrevocable more : 
 
 Nor longer a Paradise, when to Evil we turn. 
 Many thoughts in me conflicting here, make the heart sore. 
 
 We cannot see where on Earth there a Paradise now, 
 
 Nor in Society since beginning, tells our lore. 
 That there be an excuse for it, is not to allow : 
 
 But that our God ever gracious, there is not a doubt. 
 
 Awake, ye mankind ; begin a wisdom to endow : 
 Ye ! ministers of Heaven, what can ye be about, 
 
 Who speaking in Grod's name, and ye his words do not speak ; 
 
 With worldly things busy you while the Truth not found out : 
 And your labors all confined to one day in the week. 
 
 Look into the Scriptures ; for there your judgment pronounced, 
 
 A vengeance upon you ; and your Master will it wreak. 
 The Truth that in the beginning was plainly announced, 
 
 And taught us and illustrated, when from it we fell ; 
 
 Ye not yet learning it, ought like school boys to be. trounced. 
 
16 
 
 That, happened to one man, tb all ye say then befel ; 
 
 And ye hurl Kighteousness down from its heavenly Throne ; 
 Salvation not from sins, but from punishment, ye tell : 
 
 Pandering to evil, and tell God for it atone. 
 Lamentable the condition is now of Society ; 
 In its body no health ; nor soundness in any bone : 
 
 Indulging in every fruit to an utter satiety ; 
 The evil even known is, it not striving to shun, 
 And hankering after and multiplying variety ; 
 
 Instead of Truth to be done, it catering for fun ; 
 And punishes or rewards as the bargain be made : 
 And its laws and its justice but the fire of pop-gun. 
 
 The foundations of Earth in the beginning were laid 
 
 For Children of God's nature. Kingdom and dwelling place : 
 Formed in His own Image, and in His likeness arrayed : 
 
 Foreseen that they might err. He then formed them for a Race 
 That from Death they ascending, He invest them again 
 With glory that lost they, and Angel's radiant face : 
 
 And to the purpose respond we, with hearty Amen ! 
 
CANTO III. 
 
 Ye childi'en of the Light, how long stay ye, in your night ? 
 Out of it come ye all, and ye be all of the Free ; 
 Cast the outer weakness off, and put on inner might ; 
 For yourselves think ye, though ye among you not agree. 
 
 Follow not example till ye its issues have proved ; 
 • Enemy of Society, it has come to be ; 
 Inveterately followed as in track for us grooved ; 
 We go along together, in ourselves standard find. 
 And deem all to be right, is by all of us approved : 
 But not of the Free they are, whom doth Custom fast bind ; 
 Nor of the Truth any more ; nor then other than slaves, 
 And slaves to the evil ; and to the light, for it, blind. 
 Every breeze in society wafts us on its waves, 
 
 And round turns us like the weathercock with every wind, 
 The soul never attaining to the peace it so craves. 
 Forever, since Adam in the Paradise first sinned. 
 Society out of Truth, is seeking a welfare ; 
 
 Wor found it hath yet, or hath not it fast to it pinned 
 
 3* 
 
18 
 
 That It not waver still and shift with every wind's flare : 
 
 As with the tide the sands drifting, or by the strong blast 
 
 Hither and thither wafted, or whirled up in the air, 
 So th' unstable Society, its bottom not cast 
 
 In the Truth, and its structure throughout upon it reared : 
 
 A certainty forever ; as demonstrates the Past. 
 But where is the Truth now, and who hath in it adhered ! 
 
 Whoever strives, who with heart and mind wills to obey ? 
 
 By whom heeded its commandment, and cherished and feared ? 
 We have all gone away from it ; and still are astray. 
 
 Oh ! hapless Generations of the erring mankind ! 
 
 Society degenerate, man out of the way : 
 Always erring from beginning, and going behind : 
 
 A few only Good, Society degenerate. 
 
 Beginning with some virtue in the heart and the mind, 
 And inborn or from Heaven impulse to renovate. 
 
 The resources man needs from his nature he evokes ; 
 
 And perils hard menacing, God they will venerate ; 
 Wholesome labor they all having, the old and young folks : 
 
 But increasing the fruits, of foes diminishing danger, 
 
 It seems, the spirit of Evil his forces convokes ^ 
 
19 
 
 ^ And that lie not then conquer, tells the past nothing stranger. 
 
 The story of Society still tells the same tale, 
 
 And falls below the Indian, through the woods is wild rangor ; 
 Of Temptation the lures, all degenerately hail. 
 
 By the sweat of the brow, they not procuring their bread, 
 
 That man leaving simple, and strong and hearty and hale, 
 To trade and profession in Society he led. 
 
 Accomplishing his wits, and never making him wise, 
 . And the snares to entrap him, in a multitude spread. 
 Of old, when men a Babel would build up to the skies, 
 
 Dwelling in company, and did in evil conspire. 
 
 Expedient to baffle them, dispersion supplies, 
 And confounding their language, they could build it no higher. 
 
 Forever into ruin Society decays 
 
 When slumping in the evil degradation and mire : 
 Good for nothing at all then but a stink just to raise. 
 
 Man is born for the Good, and not for any thing else. 
 
 And other cultivation but fits him for the blaze 
 Blisters fiery remorse, yet his substance not melts : 
 
 A disease is incurable, when set in us deep ; 
 
 And our escape from it hindered by a great Gulf belts : 
 
20 
 
 And nothing to employ us but to wail and to weep : 
 
 Or coming at length possibly, to wake from our dream 
 
 The task we take up at length, in the Truth us to keep : 
 And in fine to it attaining, with anguish extreme, 
 
 It is possible we may into Heaven ascend : 
 
 But a second death else, of hope scatters the last gleam. 
 Oh ! friends. Wisdom for us in this life, is to attend 
 
 To all the matters do concern our eternal peace ; 
 
 And joy and hope it will lend, to the life here we spend : 
 Joyous the Truth now is, but more yet when we decease ; 
 
 It lights for us, all the gloom hanging over the grave ; 
 
 A pure joy sheds in our bosom, that never to cease, 
 The constant companion of all the wise and the brave 
 
 Against the wiles of Temptation, to evil us lures ; 
 
 Truth, our natural health, and doth to Heaven way pave ; 
 To us ever, every good in possession assures ; 
 
 Beneath its protection, we may in quiet repose. 
 
 And whatsoever on it built, for ever endures. 
 Oh ! let us at length then a Society compose 
 
 On the Kock, the Truth ; and its of living water streams 
 
 Invigorate every thing in Society grows. 
 
 i 
 
21 
 
 Our daily walk let be ever to gather the creams, 
 And we take of them a little, to repair the waste 
 Or the weariness ; in the measure the Truth redeems : 
 
 The daily thought for us ever be, to be more chaste 
 In our walk and conversation, in the Public place ; 
 Daily act, to more be with beauty and virtue graced ; 
 
 And cheering reminiscence, when Death to look in face : 
 And then steadily we travelling towards the goal 
 That to attain to, is whole drift of the earthly race. 
 
 Unto Immortality, is born the living Soul ; 
 A few years of life it here spends to eliminate 
 Exposure to degeneracy lies in the Boll : 
 
 Learn, between the Evil and Good to discriminate ; 
 Resolution build, the Good alone to entertain ; 
 Natural virtues bring to healthfully germinate ; 
 
 And into strength build them, will the Heavenly maintain : 
 Then pure we and loving, a happiness there awaits 
 Us, admits not to measure, and that never will wane ! 
 
 This do, let Society ; in these United States. 
 
CANTO IV. 
 
 Pause we before the Destiny is ours, if we will ? 
 
 And still pause not for any thing fast coming between ! 
 Degenerate will we stay, and degenerate still ? 
 
 Awake to the Glory, in our Future to be seen 
 If a nation of Kighteousness, Truth our only law ; 
 And administered justly as truth of the case lean, 
 
 And Truth, when action and Law come to hold it in awe. 
 In sad plight are we now, with million statutes in words, 
 And the issue then chance upon the turn of a straw. 
 
 As the augury of old on the flight of the birds ; 
 But now for us orderly, it the issue is flies. 
 Till they heap up in halls, like butcher's victims in stalls ; 
 
 And the victim at length drained ; or so knocked that he dies. 
 One Tribunal of Truth, and of its old common sense. 
 In fine adjudges more wisely than all appealed lies. 
 
 Let us shun the occasion for the wily pretence ; 
 
 Mortal stabs to the Truth are they in the common mind, 
 J^ni confound crime and guilt with the sheer verbose nonsense. 
 
23 
 
 Ay J the virgin soil digging, fast the weeds spring behind, 
 And with diligence have we to go over the ground 
 To fast root them all out, and leave the grains that we grind ; 
 
 And so Truth in the Moral, be amongst our words found. 
 We have to assort, from their multitude take a few. 
 In the natural soil plant, till fruit and seed abound ; 
 
 Then employ this for seed, and the stock that from it grew 
 And the branch, for our uses naturally employ : 
 And will find it tell plainly all Good "We ever knew ; 
 
 And to add of other kinds, but expressing alloy. 
 Such language let our law then in general define ; 
 And transgression by common sense forbid and destroy 5 
 
 And final issue pronounce Judge and jury, in fine. 
 It is a tax on the People, when lawyers so thrive ; 
 Their wisdom of words is altogether to decline : 
 
 Their practice was reprobated by Wisdom alive 
 Once on Earth, they are Blows of the Evil waxing stout, 
 And come to their fruit, when their fellows together strive. 
 
 They make the laws for us, and in their own cause devout ; 
 And shoulder with burthens intolerable to bear ; 
 But happy community will lawyers do without* 
 
24 
 
 To search out the Truth, is to be our first and great care, 
 
 And to make it our law we must every one agree : 
 
 And of its least violation, all of us beware : 
 And then indeed may we boast us to be of the Free. 
 
 There is a Good we encourage beyond its just meed, 
 
 And is straightway to prune then like the over grown-tree 
 So grossly has it thriven, that we have it to bleed ; 
 
 And drop many limbs from it, that will not mutilate ; 
 
 It is to trim and to purge, till it fit the just need : 
 The Public Press now, all decency doth violate, 
 
 Is put our weaknesses, vices and evil to serve ; 
 
 To corruption panders, to discord will stimulate ; 
 Is without a conscience, and as the wind blows will swerve ; 
 
 In freedom to leave yet, and to severely chastise 
 
 Till it come, to the Truth in every instance observe. 
 In books and in newspapers, equally it now lies. 
 
 And folio and review, and the light magazine ; 
 
 Spreading evil and error on the wings it supplies : 
 A running sore in Society, needs discipline : 
 
 And common sense through the law administer it must ; 
 
 And bleeding the purse, the salutary medicine : 
 
25 
 
 But not to wound ever Satire is wholesome and just. 
 
 The Volume of Truth too, to receive ought more respect, 
 And not to be scattered in all the common world's dust ; 
 
 The mind, to look in^t, be led to be circumspect, 
 Or at least we assured the desire for it sincere. 
 With a knowledge to read, and on its wisdom reflect : 
 
 But we have now in all candor to intimate here 
 That Charity hath now for us the look of a trade : 
 Its ministry from the heart coming, doth not appear, 
 
 Though the fund do enlarge often, by means of its aid : 
 Nor less fail of its high meed, who give or take the treasure, 
 The treasure of Wisdom from who the World and us made, 
 
 While we sinning against Him and foolish beyond measure : 
 But not of wisdom for us, till we apply to learn. 
 And with such glow of the heart, it our most cherished pleasure : 
 
 Or till each heart be well probed, to see if it do burn 
 With Heaven's will to be acquaint, and forthwith obey : 
 And its knowledge bestowed, again behooves then return 
 
 To oft look for the fruit ; and to inquire if they pray, 
 
 As pray Saul did for the light round him shone on the road. 
 
 And minister sent to him to help him on his way. 
 3 
 
26 
 Sown the seed, then look after it in every abode ; 
 
 The word is to bear fruit, to not be spilled on the ground. 
 
 And for your Charity else, is abuse to forebode : 
 Benevolence made business, good fruits scarce abound. 
 
 When into the channels of Society we go, 
 
 There is other than the Truth to be every where found. 
 Its light every where dim is, we have all sunk so low. 
 
 To compare Man as now he is, with what he might be, 
 
 In the life kindly accorded to him here below, 
 Of much grief is the mean to all of them the light see, 
 
 Because of the Destiny he is certain to miss ; 
 
 And of that he is sure of, and fain ought from it flee. 
 Society now, is of evil Spirits abyss ; 
 
 A loitering walk for the idle and common place ; 
 
 For hypocrites is a Temple, to publicly kiss ; 
 All the busy, for the poor goal of worldliness race ; 
 
 The laboring content them with just earning their bread : 
 
 The few thoughtful and true wear the cast down and sad face ; 
 
 « 
 But only they triumph will, when all rise from the dead. 
 
 i 
 
CANTO V. 
 
 Oh ! be we in righteousness ; and all busy and joyous ; 
 
 The wheel of Industry buz, and the merry bells peal ; 
 
 In turn, study, relaxation and labor employ us. 
 And grow we in Wisdom, with every turn of Time's wheel ; 
 
 A worship of God all in Truth, rejoice our chaste hearts, 
 
 Of Truth, a zeal and lore wax, in whatever we deal. 
 Stay, let us, innocent ; and who yet from Truth departs. 
 
 Love we him all still, and all back to it him entreat ; 
 
 But shun company he kept ; and where haunting, the parts 
 And the Prodigal returning, we joyfully greet. 
 
 Society, such lapses will constantly display. 
 
 And the Prodigal may often his follies repeat, 
 But stillever to win him. Love and Truth are the way ; 
 
 The Truth and way and life, all the same they and in one, 
 
 A Trinity to be in and follow and obey, 
 A way and life good and cheerful, if the Truth be done ; 
 
 And its way to accomplish, and to triumph at last, 
 • Is to busily and carefully the evil shun ; 
 
28 
 And then that, may yet come, Grace forgives us in the Past. 
 
 Oh ! ye friends of all ages and all classes and ranks, 
 
 I pray you, to forever in the Truth hold you fast : 
 Grateful ye will find it ; and your heart to give you thanks ; 
 
 Every day in its happiness, repays manifold. 
 
 And your riches securer than in safes or in Banks. 
 The good each day is done, let in your bosoms be told. 
 
 And your sleep will be sweet, nor any less of Death sleep ; 
 
 Nor for you any terrors, when Death comes, will it hold ; 
 Nor reason ye have ever, but for others to weep. 
 
 The way of the Truth, is the very way of your thrift, 
 
 And ye all your acquisitions forever will keep. 
 Past six thousand years now, it is quite time we us lift 
 
 From our stooping to evil, and in Righteousness shine ; 
 
 And evil from our enjoyments, now straightway we sift ; 
 That is the very way brings us of the Truth divine : 
 
 An easy proceeding if we resolutely try. 
 
 And search thoroughly the fruit that to take we incline. 
 Ay in danger, we deem us, and be strong to defy ; 
 
 We be sure that to take, will never yield a pure joy 
 
 When the fruit that is promising, to Truth tells a lie ; 
 
29 
 
 And the wisdom of the Past, in the future employ ; 
 
 Thus build shall we a strength for us, will ever abide ; 
 
 And we securely avoid all the future alloy. 
 The Saviour came among us, and he lived, and he died, 
 
 To give us the example in the way we must live, 
 
 In joy, or suffering even to be crucified : 
 He showed us the Truth ; and what love is ; and to forgive 
 
 Even our murderers ; and every little offence ; 
 
 Many beautiful precepts for our guidance did give. 
 And all Truth he exemplified was good common sense, 
 
 It all fitting our nature, and doth all in it spring ; 
 
 And all our life live may we in their obedience ; 
 With happiness their obedience only can bring. 
 
 Oh ! let man now be wise, and Society arise : 
 
 No more, the Individual in foolishness cling ; 
 The example illustrious follow, and be wise ; 
 
 Let him show what the nature in him lustrous and pure, 
 
 
 
 And the impulse in it welling, Temptation defies ; 
 Let him taste the complacency in Truth to endure. 
 
 And bring all men to love Him, who did the same first show, 
 And in his steps tp follow on, and make Heaven sure. 
 
30 
 
 Long supinely or striving, do we all fall below 
 
 The high mark that was set for us by who did descend 
 
 From the Majesty of Heaven, and did stoop so low, 
 As even to Earth to come, our Saviour and our Friend, 
 
 To teach the way and the Truth and the life to the man ; 
 
 And all his brethren, infinitely did he transcend ; 
 But taught, that the way lies between we too might yet span 
 
 That all we may take the kingdom of Heaven by force ; 
 
 For our birthright it is, since in Eden we began : 
 And to follow on have, as there did Heaven discourse ; 
 
 That is, we stay in, or Eden here make for us now. 
 
 God is unchangeable, but still having our resource 
 In love infinitely flowing, we may us endow, 
 
 Taking hold of his aid, kingdom of Heaven to seize ; 
 
 And to evermore dwell there ; as his Grace doth allow : 
 And even he entreats : but leaves to do as we please. 
 
 If w^e love not the Heaven, we have not there to dwell. 
 
 But happiness is in Heaven ; and it hath its trees, 
 Nor may the issue come there, our first Parents befel. 
 
 A strength must there be, and in this life is it to build. 
 
 To uphold us in Righteousness, to Truth do and telL 
 
31 
 
 Not the blood and the water by the Soldier was spilled 
 
 Takes to Heaven the degenerate, in all their sins. 
 
 But the impulse of the Truth, with its dictate fulfilled ; 
 The life of the Immortal here among us begins, 
 
 But the Immortal in his sins, to Heaven not soars ; 
 
 In the way of the Truth only, a place there he wins, 
 .And shut upon us else, are its everlasting doors. 
 
 The way of Truth, is the way of happiness and peace, 
 
 Nor another he finds, who Earth and Heaven explores ; 
 The way of the Being, before and after decease. 
 
 Any other is of misery, or to it turns ; 
 
 And eternally, it and its misery increase : 
 Heaven is pure, and the lamp there of Purity burns 
 
 In each breast inhabits, or to enter may aspire ; 
 
 And pure and purer to keep, momentally concerns. 
 Retire, degenerate, not the Heaven ye desire : 
 
 For the joys ye so covet, ye find the place elsewhere : 
 
 The flames that burn in you, will not consume with their fire. 
 But not the pleasures ye covet, ye find in them there ! 
 
CANTO VL 
 
 Oh ! I would win you, my fellow men, all to embrace 
 The open way to your Salvation leads ; 
 Nor other there, ever can take its place. 
 The case such is, it absolutely needs 
 We in Truth go ; love its every dictate. 
 No health is there for us, if it not speeds 
 Us, acting, and when we do contemplate ; 
 Nor hope, having erred we, unless we shake, 
 And follow on with the Regenerate : 
 Our nature lets Heaven but this law make : 
 And if ye consider, ye will accord 
 With me, and every other way forsake. 
 Formed we were in love by our God the Lord, 
 Of the nature Immortal and of Grod ; 
 To live here to Him : and witness record 
 The triune Three, how the Earth by us trod, 
 In the Heaven of interest for children 
 Its family, and if with Righteousness their feet shod. 
 
33 
 
 And if their house in the Heaven daily do they build them 
 According to the witness do the Three in Earth bear, 
 And in their self-made benightedness in and with gild them. 
 
 Surpassingly grand the appendage of our wayfare : 
 
 Earth and Heaven co-working and surveying the scene : 
 The Throne of Heaven presides, and for Heaven takes care. 
 
 What will we do then, and how will demean 
 
 With the Light shining on us, judgment waiting afar. 
 And we writing its sentence as our fruits we do glean ! 
 
 We walk upon the Earth now ; our home is with the star. 
 " What is man, that thou are mindful of him, 
 Or the Son of Man, that him thou regar- 
 
 Dest, a little lower thou hast made him 
 
 Than the Angels, and with Glory hast crowned 
 Him :" but the Light yet to his sight is dim 
 
 For the darkness of Evil, grows covering the ground ; 
 " For we also are his offspring" and '' day 
 He hath appointed in the which," as found, 
 
 " He will judge the world in Righteousness :" '^ pray 
 
 And watch therefore, for ye know not" '' what hour 
 
 . Your Lord cometh ;" " I am the truth and" '' way 
 3* 
 
34 
 
 And the life," ^' in Heaven and 'Earth all Power" 
 
 '' Given me," '' an example I have given 
 
 You that ye should do as I have done," our 
 Duty is here, that all we be of them that have striven, 
 
 And " violent take the Kingdom of Heaven by force ;" 
 
 And all the devils be out of us driven. 
 To tell men Truth, plain words are the recourse, 
 
 The words then* Evil makes, and words it cure ; 
 
 Of drift they make, and plain to them discourse. 
 The Providence labors to have us pure ; 
 
 Society has been and still continues corrupt ; 
 
 And its corruption will limit the time it endure ; 
 Nothing but its striving, can corruption interrupt ; 
 
 Strife against Evil, by the individual man, . 
 
 And from many or most, its abandonment abrupt. 
 We are striving, even now, but within narrow span, 
 
 And are not striving to Heaven, but mostly for wares, 
 
 And we have fallen below where our fathers began. 
 Our garden of the West is covered over with tares. 
 
 From tree in the midst we pluck with bold hand ; 
 
 Though we all from it warned, rare who bewares. 
 
35 
 
 We heed not of Grod the every command ; 
 But he loves, his children we. He is wise, 
 Hither called us to this beautiful land ; 
 His Groods to us Children still He supplies : 
 . Yet our fathers beneath we, beneath them, we have fallen. 
 Oh ! let us from degeneracy forthwith arise ; 
 Let us bow in the dust down, and upon Him we call then. 
 And all apply us to find out and to do His will ; 
 That no longer the evil so entangle and thrall then ; 
 And a loving Society and Nation we still. 
 Everywhere now. Society in scattering groups 
 Works at the lessons Nature and Providence instil, 
 And overweeningly to evil everywhere stoops ; 
 
 Nor there remedy, but Truth to find out, and dispense ; - 
 All our ships with its messengers man, the prows and poops, 
 First have we, to have it in us ; here at home commence ; 
 Else the task on us laid, we never may execute : 
 In us to be, is it, and we spread it then and thence. 
 And shall we content ever to slide down evil's chute 
 In track of the Generations before us have slid ; 
 Into Purgatory or Hell drop, for evil fruit ! 
 
36 
 
 Let us the Truth descry, has so long been to us hid ; 
 
 And in it go, and count for despicable the slide ; 
 
 Upon the light that would enlighten, not shut eyelid ; 
 But the Path it illumines be by all of us tried. 
 
 And the clouds it enveloping be scattered afar ; 
 
 Webs miserable entangling, brush we all aside, 
 And crusade through the world make, eflfacing th' evil mar. 
 
 But for a day and a year, live we all of us here, 
 
 And quickly resolve must, and put aside every bar ; 
 And in the work sturdily forever we adhere. 
 
 Our work then, behold ; our lofty Roll, and Glory crowns 
 
 And with diligence let us proceed and holy fear 
 Of who rewarding the good, and on the wicked frowns ! 
 
 Purify will the Truth, and with Strength and Power gird, 
 
 Will ransack and chasten evil sluices in our towns, 
 Banish confusion, and exterminate the absurd ; 
 
 Error exile, and with shamefacedness sponge out crime ; 
 
 It conform will our laws to the spirit of the Word ; 
 And crown us with Glory, in Eternity, and Time. 
 
CANTO VII. 
 
 In awe reverential now, contemplate we the grand 
 Spectacle on us opening, of a Universe ; 
 In the aether by Him poised who doth all things command ; 
 
 Ever changing its aspects, as each part Part rehearse ; 
 All balanced in hand of Him who first bade it to be ; 
 And keeps it still in one ; and by His word may disperse ; 
 
 It dissolvable into vapor that not to see ; 
 
 Or consumable all, in of His wrath lambent flame 
 Against the wicked, in vain seek before it to flee. 
 
 There, orbits within orbits, countless worlds without name 
 In harmonious movements mysteriously wind. 
 And whence they did start return in cycles to the same, 
 
 By a law set in each, and by a law doth all bind : 
 
 And where each still doth stand, may ever he take account 
 At any moment, who holds of the Infinite Mind ; 
 
 Into being sprang thence, and runs still from the same Fount : 
 And wending wight every one, here on earth toils and spins, 
 Ample stretch in him he hath, to grasp their whole amount ; 
 
38 
 
 Yet content is, his Probation to waste in his sins ; 
 
 The Probation fit to dwell should, in th' Heaven of all ; 
 
 Not earing, with Heaven's bliss to crown life here begins. 
 So long has- our Race wended here, the great and the small, 
 
 And we not thinking what we are, or where we belong, 
 
 Or content we to be shoots from our first father's fall, 
 And upon him to charge the whole burthen of our wrong ; 
 
 We never aspire higher than the mark we maintain ; 
 
 And the pit we have digged, fall into in a throng. 
 The case that we now in are, is so monstrously plain 
 
 Needs never the argument, for granted I assume : 
 
 Without excuse every man, all the foolish and vain, 
 Never they examining when they take and consume ; 
 
 The reason we so fall all, and get stuck in the mire : 
 
 And more than any, they flippant who will not presume 
 Such doctrines to question, is Heaven claimed to inspire, 
 
 But only interpretations contrived to subserve 
 
 The greeds of Corruption ; and satiate ill desire. 
 They tell us, from the Truth we may all harmlessly swerve, 
 
 And save us their doctrines will if we only believe ; 
 
 And our nature tell corrupted, the doctrine to nerve. 
 
39 
 
 They put in such a fix, will not a hope to us leave 
 
 But with their doctrine to take up, and* for it them pay ; 
 
 And for success of the project may laugh in their sleeve. 
 A sad story is it, and has come down a long way ; 
 
 And of antiquity of the Church wears the broad stamp, 
 
 And most to descend furthest claiming, still in it stay j 
 All with the light, they in love, through the stained glass and lamp ; 
 
 Albeit nor the nature suits, nor actual case ; 
 
 Or of prison damps tells, or of superstition's clamp. 
 Never speed us will doctrine on our heavenly race 
 
 Unless doctrine of Truth, and to Truth let us attend ; 
 
 And worship in it let us, in each heavenly place ; 
 And do and obey it too, as we on our way wend, 
 
 Its pure impulse in the heart working, and love awaking : 
 
 Pure service we offering, as we daily ascend ; 
 Making all the title we be of Grace the partaking. 
 
 Degraded is our God, by such doctrine that men dribble ; 
 
 And who it takes. Truth forsakes, or is nigh to forsaking. 
 The Truth's pure and strong sanctions, from its own wheat men 
 cribble. 
 
 And from the dust left, the yeast make to leaven a bread 
 
 The degeneracy suits, and pays them for the quibble ; 
 
* 40 
 
 And complacency of death then it soothes in the dead. 
 
 From this all, let us the Social bosom disabuse ; 
 
 Nor the ignorant longer by abusers be led ; 
 No longer let idlers with their specifics amuse : 
 
 Nor we longer to other than ourselves wholly trust ; 
 
 Nor to do and obey Truth, another day refuse. 
 The Truth and our Nature, make and tell the way that just ; 
 
 And whatever offer else, but a drain on our cash, 
 
 Nor help yields any, when crumble these bodies to dust. 
 We have never to take Heaven by force, with a dash ; . 
 
 Smooth or rugged our pathway, we have slowly to climb : 
 
 And brave and strong be we must, but helps not, to be rash ; 
 Steady labor demands for whole lease have we of Time ; 
 
 And all virtues of Truth, much have we to exercise : 
 
 And the heighths they will take us to, truly are sublime. 
 But let us at length now, from this delving all arise, 
 
 And on the Heaven of reward, ^x our earnest gaze ; 
 
 For there the happiness is, it maintains and supplies. 
 Society in Heaven, the elect to the praise 
 
 Of grace make ; and no hindrance hath love there to its flow : 
 
 The whole Group of its virtues, there the nature displays : 
 
41 
 
 There every one known is, and all his fellows doth know. 
 In a field inexhaustible dwell they of delights ; 
 And sweetest friendships cement, with of pure love the glow : 
 
 Every bosom receives it, and each bosom requites ; 
 The multitude of the Heavenly, will not exhaust : 
 And the purest of the pure. Love ministers its rites. 
 
 The erst friend here in Truth loved by us, we shall accost, 
 And the friendship of earth be renewed in Paradise, 
 With no doubts longer clouded, nor by any fears tossed. 
 
 The here ties of love, there, will renewed be clean and nice. 
 Children of our love, we may there happily embrace, 
 And with reminiscences precious beyond all price. 
 
 And together we low bow, before the throne of Grace ; 
 In twin happiness immortal, child and parent blest. 
 There, may Imagination have its play on the face ; 
 
 And the pure bosom there, never its kindlings arrest: 
 Over the universe it will ramble then, and glean 
 Of the treasures of beauty to deck with them each breast. 
 
 Oh ! glorified, be there, of the Man the look and mien 
 
 That here baffled of their glow by the clouds darkened round. 
 And what man but for them been, astonishingly seen. - 
 
42 
 
 The seeking much earnestly, and but little here found, 
 There will transport in the luxuriance of the pure 
 Natural, here shadowed forth coming out of the ground ; 
 
 And bless the fidelity did its love here assure. 
 
CANTO VIII. 
 
 To renovate Society from its degradation 
 Needs herculean work such is told of in the fables ; 
 A whole river turned through it, for an utter purgation : 
 
 Through cellar and dome, screening wantonness to the gables ; 
 Through the Temples and Courts, and lobbies of legislation ; 
 .And offices and shops where the false doses and labels : 
 
 The study where concoct men do the schemes for salvation ; 
 The festering by streets and lanes with vice, crime and lust, 
 And deeds that unmentionable incurring damnation : 
 
 Depositories of guile that not covered with dust : 
 Where, the ponderous volumes, of superstition lore ; 
 For wisdom that counted, but on its shield is the rust. 
 
 The hushed voice of Truth now, hath like the lion to roar , 
 Till the degenerate tremble, and souls in them shake. 
 And in sackloth and ashes weep, and Heaven implore 
 
 The judgment it stay, while their evil deeds they forsake ; 
 And come to no longer of the Being of God doubt, 
 But for the imniinent danger of Hell fear and quake. 
 
44 
 
 And thenceforth all their doings in accordance lay out : 
 
 Society from torpor, to good action arise 
 
 And past doings in that torpor learn to do without ; 
 Virtues of Truth substitute for deception and lies ; 
 
 Till pure love and respect among its members prevail, 
 
 And brethren they deem them, and love and cherish their ties ; 
 All cultivate a friendship in its need shall not fail ; 
 
 In good counsel fruitful and it all gladly receive : 
 
 Ever still in a liberty that healthful and hale ; 
 Each consulting his conscience, each its dictate believe : 
 
 The word of God studying with of its lessons heed ; 
 
 His neighbor each one comforting whenever he grieve ; 
 Welcoming with joy every opening for kind deed. 
 
 Children are we together here, a one common Strain ; 
 
 In us a one Sympathy, that we all of us need 
 In emergencies that come, and afflictions that pain. 
 
 And because we Truth and Love do so sadly neglect ; 
 
 Our Father fell from Truth, and we falling still remain, 
 And with more knowledge than he had, the curse we elect. 
 
 The wisdom at our command, we care not to acquire, 
 
 Nor the choicest of all goods take we care to select : 
 
45 
 Nor in our daUy walk in Society, aspire 
 
 To fill the natural roll that we all are for made ; 
 Nor, the destiny attends on it, scarcely desii^e : 
 Yet the grave will be dug for us, and there we be laid : 
 And Eternity waits for us, the same we here build ; 
 The Truth of it certain ; for in the Scriptures displayed. 
 By usage of Society, the Truth scarce instilled, 
 Nor more characterizing the Social habitude ; 
 Its voice in us is discouraged, and its impulse chilled. 
 Oui* way as we go on, takes not of its aptitude. 
 And other habits diverse come our life to impress. 
 Till wide we all stray of its heavenly latitude ; 
 And all evils in Society I thus'express. 
 
 Peace and happiness, are companions of innocence ; 
 That is to heed Truth and Nature, and evil repress : 
 A rational life, and in any other no sense. 
 Society has wandered ; and I would, it come back. 
 Till against Truth and Nature, it no more do offence : 
 Persuade it to cease from following on in same track 
 To depart hence at length then, not in hope but regret ; 
 Scarce regretting to go, -but that life's end and hope lack. 
 
46 
 
 That life a hope has and end, is never to forget, 
 
 As our children we rear, in Society we act ; 
 
 A stern duty, and let there to fulfil be no let ; 
 A part by Heaven's will, in the family compact : 
 
 And the veritable way to keep Truth in Society ; 
 
 That holding then for its welfare Heaven's sure contract. 
 Such partaking now of Good and Evil to satiety, 
 
 Against Heaven's will is, and our own nature's dictate ; 
 
 Both command to ay take, with discretion and sobriety. 
 And shows experience the truth here we indicate, 
 
 And all the sanctions we know in same lesson unite ; 
 
 In Truth then adhere we, and our nature vindicate. 
 Let us study the whole Scripture, and walk in its light ; 
 
 Exult in the nature, hope and destiny are ours, 
 
 And to develope and attain, put forth our whole might. 
 It is a destiny of joy, into Heaven towers : 
 
 Our nature unfold we, in its excellence and glory ; 
 
 And Society then, it to the utmost empowers. 
 Society about Truth, is in a category ; 
 
 The Reverends and Doctors dispute and disagree 
 
 About the lesson and reward in the sacred story ; 
 
4t 
 
 Heaven's wisdom they cannot, or cannot alike see, 
 A wisdom each hath his own, and all other contemns, 
 And each in complacency nothing hinders to be. 
 
 They employ them on new fashions for their theorems, 
 And from concern of the heart keep remarkably free ; 
 And cicatrized they all need to be., in stocks and stems. 
 
 Of our elliptical curve, we in the apogee. 
 
 Very sluggishly for the time are creeping along ; 
 
 But the day has to come yet, when the man shall be free ; 
 
 Well distinguishing the right and avoiding the wrong. 
 
 Ye blind Gruides and Preachers, by whom so many are led, 
 And few of you wise, and but few the good in your throng. 
 
 Ye will many of you find such, ye threaten us bed. 
 
 Who list not to your menace, and who shame for your rant, 
 In Hell ; abusers and corrupters, among the dead ; 
 
 Or if simpleness you place in Purgatory grant. 
 Your audacity, will ye for Time manifold mourn. 
 That so slovenly ye here did the seed of Truth plant : 
 
 I warn you to repent then, ere ye pass to last Bourn. 
 
CANTO IX. 
 
 Time was, I did an offering make, a kind of touchstone 
 Assaying World's temper, and its quality of mind ; 
 It of Nature and Truth, and as the purpose suit such one ; 
 
 And in the same three-fold rhyme here also interlined : 
 Its staple the Truth, Nature too along fresh and green ; 
 And homely precepts of Truth with the lines intertwined, 
 
 A pure fervor of feeling cementing them between : 
 Nor any words without meaning to be in it found 
 But such connecting indispensably words that mean ; 
 
 And all so put together, each harmony of sound. 
 
 The sentiment of Nature and Truth that was conveyed. 
 It steadily develope till both finished come round. 
 
 In due course then and kindly, and the case too, well weighed, 
 I made of it a gift to a daily penny sheet, 
 Of a large circulation as its columns displayed, 
 
 And wont it to often in words and figures repeat : 
 Then the Book wordy nonsense, did in order report. 
 I tested the sick mind, was the Book minded to treat, 
 
49 
 
 And it un wotting its sickness of the book made sport : 
 So occasion I found was there, to still the mind bleed ; 
 Only lesson, of the blood, with the case would comport. 
 
 Very plain was that to purge it, the imminent need ; 
 And make repentance and washing then regeneration ; 
 In which following on diligently and with heed, 
 
 The man work out in due time from his sins a salvation. 
 
 To the Truth always do well, the way Truth be well known, 
 I to fear have, the man yet has to make a purgation 
 
 For some trespasses and sins personal, or by loan : 
 Illustrating how come, he not the Truth understand : 
 For him stooping to evil, nor Nature nor Truth shone. 
 
 The Nature with Truth in us, tell us Heaven's command. 
 And always are they impulse the command to obey : 
 And obeyed, a pure in us life build, and manners bland ; 
 
 And reverenced by their fellows, who such do portray. 
 But excellence in their fellows, they wont to contemn. 
 Who for a motive refuse to in same hold their way : 
 
 And the reason, an inveterately worldly Phlegm. 
 
 The honest man, and to his nature true, 
 
 Hath not to fear, but feel concern for, them 
 4 
 
- 50 
 
 Temptation or circumstance iess honestly imbue, 
 
 Till of the honest and truthful, their sense becomes dull, 
 And so on this man I bestow the pity is. due, 
 
 With the hope he may yet come to some better fruits cull. 
 Alas ! Society now is not in the condition 
 The Truth doth demand ; and yet it in peace doth it lull. 
 
 Now, its Religion is of Superstition, 
 
 That, somewhat added to the Truth alone : 
 There is a simpler doctrine, with tradition. 
 
 But by it Truth is not now fully shown. 
 
 Now, the ministry or clergy for most part define 
 Salvation as bought for us because Christ did atone : 
 
 And do also to the Church for it mostly confine : 
 
 Obedience of the Truth, they will at times commend, 
 
 But doctrine the more efiective they deem do in fine : 
 To their work one weekly day they attend. 
 
 And other days, in other work engage ; 
 
 Oft at Public Meetings their breath they spend. 
 And a battle of words among them wage : 
 
 Their time they much occupy while they write 
 
 The Sunday's sermon, to be all the rage : 
 
51 
 
 To form new Societies, they unite ; 
 And many schemes in Religion contrive : 
 But tlie Truth to teach, seem not to delight, 
 
 Nor more to the one Man make in it thrive ; 
 Their duty they imagine they acquit 
 With a sermon and Prayer, when the Sabbath arrive, 
 
 And persuading, their doctrine if they can to admit. 
 Arguing in support of it for almost an hour : 
 Or on other topic sometimes, as seems to them fit : 
 
 And in strain that may be eloquent, or terse, or sour ; 
 Then the same again done over, the people dismiss, 
 Till other Sabbath come round again. And such now our 
 
 Protestant Ministry and service are, and with this 
 
 And the work was before mentioned, they count to convert 
 Society ; and from it Serpent and Evil hiss. 
 
 Hark ! the New year has come ; other year, moral desert 
 Upon the Earth, and monstrous Evils personified 
 In a ghastly Presence and touch, the Truth do pervert ; 
 
 And the Man too, until he bows to them deified. 
 No health in Society is there, it sickens, perishes ; 
 The record tells only, it rose, and flourished, and died: 
 
52 
 
 It of all to excess takes that its sickly heart cherishes ; 
 Over and over again all the Earth it doth ramble, 
 And begins to degenerate as soon as it -flourishes ; 
 
 Unfailingly its flourishmentj to this the preamble. 
 
 Our fathers did come hither with the strong bone and muscle, 
 The waste ground to furrow, and with the Indian to scramble 
 
 Hungry, for the harvest, and to wage with him death tussle ; 
 Were in danger by day, and in their nightly repose 
 As the war-whoop yell startling, or might the bush leaves rustle : 
 
 But then vigilant they were against all of then* foes : 
 They practiced the virtues, for they of eminent need : 
 But when conquered the danger, and their children arose. 
 
 The watchfulness flagged, and so the good too in their speed : 
 In time of repose, fell their virtue from the high mark 
 Of example had been left them, of true word and deed ; 
 
 And the Preacher fell too, to whom on Sunday we hark. 
 And backward in Society, same course still we trace 
 Looking into history until where it grow dark : 
 
 Nor other than same Path, doth Keform alas ! retrace. 
 
CANTO X. 
 
 Behooves, we do resume the common Social disgrace 
 That Society thrive in virtue when it in danger 
 From the Foe is approaching, else in vice wades apace : 
 
 And so long it arriving, there is much that looks stranger. 
 Ever, multitude gathering, temptations increase, 
 And Citizen falls more than through the woods the wild ranger. 
 
 In" riches do we wax, and in Righteousness decrease, 
 The eminent few, the more eminent become yet ; 
 But not eminent, to degenerate never cease : 
 
 A new force then comes in the Temptation to abet, 
 And Society waxing, to the downfall it hastes. 
 With every means of enjoyment the streets are beset, 
 
 And of some one of the fruits every passer by tastes : 
 The very danger most imminent we do incur. 
 And the temper of most of us it utterly wastes. 
 
 God did form the man in love, and charged him not to err 
 In his taking of fruit ; and obeying the command. 
 The righteous man is, and will not to evil defer, 
 
64 
 
 And destined then to stand upon the Judge's right hand, 
 And the glory awaits him is of the Righteous man 
 And the angel thenceforward in Grod's presence to stand : 
 
 In the Heaven, to dwell, though here to live he began. 
 To contemplate that Destiny, in bosom should thrill 
 With an ecstasy never through the fleshy veins ran. 
 
 The love of us by Heaven doth the whole measure fill 
 That to the utmost might kindle of Heaven desire ; 
 Holding all to love here is, and a great deal more still ; 
 
 And happiness here makes, when to it there we aspire. 
 Chequered our life here is with grievous vicissitude : 
 Full many labors and vexations here do us tire ; 
 
 In our aim after happiness, obstacles intrude ; 
 
 Alloy our enjoyments ; and disappointment arrests ; 
 We oft grieve and weary in drear hours of solitude : 
 
 Oft the absence to mourn have of sympathising breasts ; 
 
 And they all, of our Earth's life the meet parcels and parts, 
 That it lead us to Heaven ; if we fit for it, tests ; 
 
 Affording the occasion to purify our hearts. 
 
 And they all and our whole life go on Earth to prepare 
 For happiness of Htaven, when its love in us starts ; 
 
55 
 
 And so ought we to deem, and by them school us with care : 
 In our life every movement should to ttis always tend ; 
 And we welcome occasion ; for our good not to spare. 
 
 Who hath never to suffer in this life here we wend, 
 
 His lesson scarce learn will, to in the Truth him maintain ; 
 Condition imperative, we to Heaven ascend. 
 
 In our afflictions, more is to rejoice than complain, 
 While them all we employ, to more Heavenly appear : 
 And without them^ much danger our life here be in vain : 
 
 The love of God did accord it ; to whom we are dear ; 
 And all its wise discipline, for which Earth he prepared, 
 That by means of exposures its sure children it rear ; 
 
 And for our emergencies solicitously cared ; 
 
 And the things we oft grieve for, of its love are the pledge. 
 To obedience leading of the warning declared. 
 
 That that commandment the Truth was, in truth we alledge ; 
 And to do it, we learn in our Pilgrimage below. 
 As in all life's circumstance we the truth neatly dredge. 
 
 Such assurance in me strong, though it to come full slow. 
 Hath prompted me, my brethren to cheer with it and aid ; 
 And I would that it spur them to seek if it be so. 
 
56 
 
 A whole harmony comes by it out of all things made ; 
 
 And the Scriptures to look to us natural and plain ; 
 
 And of all doubt, in our evil the foundation laid. 
 Time advancing so long was, while men did not maintain 
 
 Them in the Truth, the light did wane, and the darkness grew. 
 
 Till to look for it at length seemed a work all in vain ; 
 But I labored, and Truth glowingly I at length knew. 
 
 That Society receive it, I have feeble hope. 
 
 But my life bestow cheerfully, in even this view 
 So great work to accomplish ; unselfish Philanthrope. 
 
 The Past that all flown now, let us kindly for it think 
 
 Yet no longer we in the dust of its Grave's rests grope : 
 Nor the chains of its Superstition have for us chink. 
 
 Into our Freedom us all let us emancipate ; 
 
 And our Freedom acquit too, to in neither Hell sink. 
 That man, and Society, ought to deliberate 
 
 On all wisdom of Revelation its book contains. 
 
 And its ability from all ills to liberate, 
 Is the lesson that to urge on them for me remains. 
 
 Of Individuals does Society consist. 
 
 And new Generations the living follow in trains, 
 
57 . , 
 
 And evil example same need have they to resist. 
 Example like Property, will descend to the heirs, 
 But so worthless it is now, it ought not to exist ; 
 
 And we now to reform it, from our children it spares : 
 And can impulse be stronger, than our children to save, 
 In the heart of the Parent that so much for them cares : 
 
 Oh ! let us to the heart yield then, doth so plead and crave ; 
 And for a welfare ourselves, and to aid them, provide. 
 That danger of example, we at least for them waive. 
 
 Let us cast to the winds our so vain building of Pride, 
 And to learn what be wisdom, we all of us apply ; 
 The minister, and the man, go along side and side ; 
 
 And that the work not impracticable, none deny. 
 
 The Grod of our fathers, who did send us to this land. 
 Will look complacently down upon us, as we try 
 
 And we all strive might and main, with the mind and the hand : 
 And will smile on us : and the Heavens will shake, the while. 
 With the lofty Hosannas from the whole Angel Band, 
 
 As the man upwards doth his ladder to Heaven pile. 
 
 4* 
 
THE CHURCH 
 
" To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world that 
 I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth hear- 
 eth my voice." — John xviii. 37. 
 
 *' Whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear." — Ezektel ii. 5. 
 
THE CHURCH. 
 
 CANTO I. 
 
 Among the Institutions characterize Society 
 
 One there is, that pre-eminent in its claims and duties ; 
 And with all reverence it behooves us, and sobriety, 
 
 To contemplate its office, and scope ; and superfluities : 
 The first, to exalt ; the second, it expand ; and tell 
 Then the Reforms, would adorn it with heavenly beauties. 
 
 The Church olden is now, and doth in many lands dwell. 
 With the ancient tower ; or old turret ; or tall spire 
 Pointing towards the Heaven, and weakly tolling bell 
 
 Within ; and the chancel beneath, and the aisle, and choir ; 
 And fretted pavement ; or old and worn floor with, the tread 
 Of Generations long entering, to then retire 
 
 With a heavenly fervor, or levity, or dread 
 
 The place may, or heedlessness, or the warning inspire 
 From lips consecrated had been to arouse the dead 
 
64 
 
 Degenerate ; or entertain may.; or threaten fire 
 
 And a dire wrath from Heaven, if failing to obey 
 
 Or command, or requisition ; or any desire. 
 The Church and to meditate upon it, will convey 
 
 Us backward, and far away ; over the Ocean wide. 
 
 And to the isle, and the continent ; and all the way 
 That we have come over, since Adam and Eve did hide 
 
 Them from the presence of their offended Maker, fearful ; 
 
 And the World between Evil and Good thenceforth divide. 
 This chequered way and its many scenes mournful, will tearful 
 
 Make the eyes swim, as fraught be in bosom the remembrance 
 
 Of the transgression in Eden, and its woes ; or cheerful, 
 As we gaze ever upon occasional resemblance 
 
 To the divine immortal incomparable Being 
 
 By the Creator formed in his own image and semblance ; 
 In all beauty then glowing they from the evil fleeing. 
 
 Of both of them, the Church find will we, in every age. 
 
 Together worshiping and tolerably agreeing. 
 The Good and Evil both figure upon every page 
 
 Of our sad story, in the Church, or in world at large ; 
 
 In Principle combatants and there a battle wage. 
 
65 
 
 In the Man so mixed up, that he bears of both the charge. 
 In the Chiarch man ministering at the holy altar, 
 Against the evil fights there, beyond a certain marge : 
 
 In the world the good men in the Good will sometimes falter, 
 And evil men of Good the semblance sometimes assume ; 
 And in it, all men and the Church too, with evil palter : 
 
 And let us upon this predicate the Thejne resume. 
 The Church, an image is ; and is setup in the World, 
 Arrayed in many strange vestments, and with cap and plume, 
 
 Bedizzened in many colors, and its grey hau^s curled ; 
 In faces so varying they are taken for masks 
 By such that will refuse with all its words to be burled : 
 
 It proffers great benefits, and for them only asks 
 In return of us, worship and to acquit its claims 
 In view of a power hath to relieve from our tasks : 
 
 It shows it in divisions, with their several names. 
 And a sectile difference to whet the appetite. 
 Or non-conforming votaries conduct to the flames. 
 
 Its habitual temper is rather of despite 
 
 And will turn upon itself, in of other default ; 
 
 Itr delights oftentimes to growl, and to snarl and bite ; 
 
66 
 
 And comes, if it ever in peace, to nigh a dead halt. 
 But this image of Truth, as in the Prophecy called, 
 Hath in it somewhat ever of the Scriptural salt ; 
 
 Nor are all that in the Church, by it also enthralled. 
 A visible image the Church is, the Truth presenting 
 In the world, and duly its ministers are installed 
 
 To teach the Truth ; and afford their aid to all consenting 
 To receive ; and the reward offer, freely bestowed 
 By Heaven on whoever with hearts softened relenting 
 
 To Him turn them repentant, in the path that he showed 
 Who from the Heaven did come, to save us from our Sins. 
 He came to Earth, and did live among us, and the road 
 
 To Heaven he plainly to us told ; where it begins. 
 How it continuing on, and the whole way to go ; 
 So plain that whoever runs even may read ; and wins 
 
 For who will go in it, deliverance from the wo 
 Inevitable for whoever do this refuse : 
 And here put we our foot down, and say that it is so. 
 
 We all have to go in the Truth, and not to amuse 
 Us with the rites and such ceremonies that are vain, 
 And that with a vain hope delude us while we abuse 
 
67 
 
 The wise provision was made for us, that we attain 
 
 To Wisdom itself, in this preliminary scene ; 
 
 To a Virtue and Truth, that may forever maintain 
 Us, there even where we invest the Immortal sheen. 
 Of the image- of Truth, the story among us men 
 
 Is wonderful indeed, and the wherefore of it seen. 
 A field and a fondness are there, to delight us, when 
 
 Ever we will, by partaking of beautiful fruit. 
 
 By the wayside, in town, or the mountain, or in glen : 
 And native to delight is, in a measure will suit 
 
 With our welfare in whole ; but in Earth here, a compound 
 
 Being we are, and of Soul, but therewith is a suit 
 Of clothes round it, very beautiful, and doth abound 
 
 In susceptibilities to take, and it delight. 
 
 But takes yet so fast, and such quantities that they found 
 Together are, our true happiness to rather spite ; 
 
 And the susceptibility for it too, to void ; 
 
 And this spoils us for Heaven ; where doth happiness quite 
 The hours all fill up, and with it we upon Earth cloyed 
 
 Our Heaven is spoiled for us, if even we could get 
 
 There ; and therefore does it need that we be much employed 
 
68 
 
 Upon earth, in Wilding Wisdom and strength against let 
 To our constant enjoyment, or aught may it oppose. 
 As born into life, and we young, there is much abet 
 
 May the greed in us we have, fruit to pluck, cull the rose, 
 And every blossom and fruit grow alongside the road : 
 And much danger is it fraught with ; they turn into foes. 
 
 A field of flowers, is, indeed our future abode ; 
 But our susceptibility hath limit set round. 
 That we overpassing, then begins it to corrode. 
 
 This limit, hath here for us in Wisdom to be found. 
 And then strictly obeyed, or else we never can dwell 
 Where the field more extended and flowers more abound : 
 
 And there is otherwise danger we go to the Hell. 
 In this lesson then, is the secret of Truth contained : 
 The key opes to us Heaven, and know it should we well ; 
 
 And to know, the way is to do ; then men in it trained. 
 Oh ! ye friends, it much behooves, that such lesson ye learn 
 And it do, and to begin ere your life have much waned. 
 
 Our God loves his children, and would have them all to earn 
 The wisdom and strength to them always in truth uphold : 
 Well knowing He our weakness, and hath for it concern ; 
 
69 
 
 And for this He creating us, the Truth of it told. 
 He is ever indeed gracious ; evil done forgives 
 Upon our return to the truth again, young or old : 
 
 And the lost Truth, re-established for us ; and who lives 
 To intercede for us, from his own bosom He sent 
 For love of us children ; and many brethren too gives, 
 
 And all men He draws to him, when they choose and consent. 
 Thus then I have told you, my dear friends and fellow-men. 
 The secret of Heaven's Truth ; and who well in it went ; 
 
 And if him we will follow, to enter are sure then 
 
 Where gone hath the forerunner, and beckons us to follow ; 
 And I pray you then strive ; strive, and pray with hearty amen ; 
 
 Then departing soar after him, like the lark or swallow. 
 
CANTO 11. ' 
 
 Appointed is this mortal life, to build in ns strength : 
 
 Thereof need made erst apparent, Love hastes to prepare 
 The beautiful Earth, rounding in its breadth and its length. 
 
 Poised floating in skyey space, and enveloped in air 
 A temporal life suit in tabernacle of flesh : 
 It to dwell here a little, while we work and prepare 
 
 For the Heaven our building that need not to refresh 
 With viands spring out of and go about on the ground ; 
 Our nourishment while we learn to avoid evil's mesh. 
 
 As of late we discoursing, we reluctantly found 
 Unmistakable occasion to attach some blame : 
 Not though with complacency ; and a sorrow did wound ; 
 
 Yea, much of it, and deep too, and not a little shame 
 For the World thoughtless and careless and degenerate ; 
 And long, long staying in it, and exampling the same. 
 
 Every one of us for himself determines his fate : 
 
 And should take from all ofiering the purest and best ; 
 And forbear from the rest ; yea, even hold it of hate : 
 
71 
 
 And should prudently his own, not of other, behest 
 
 Make the rule of his life ; and with Wisdom it be fraught. 
 We have Wisdom to acquire, and it comes by request, 
 
 And in the fruit and flower found, by which we besought : 
 Wisdom, if to -take, is ; and of Wisdom, taken, held : 
 And thus learn we wisdom, till our life be with it wrought : 
 
 Then afterward enjoying, always wholly impelled 
 By a love of the Truth, and full purpose to obey ; 
 Or continue to find will, against Truth we rebelled. 
 
 The resolve is to make, and maintain it as we may : 
 But any lapse, a bitterness in our hearts constrain. 
 As we sorrow and ponder, and humble us and pray ; 
 
 Purposed that we in future in the Truth will maintain : 
 And effecting it, the Past is forgiven of Grace : 
 As determined, before Earth in the aether had lain : 
 
 Or man had started in Evil his unhallowed race. 
 And now, having intimated in cursory order. 
 What the Church, and what be its Social duty and place ; 
 
 To consider, we proceed, some sources of disorder 
 
 In the High Places quite manifest ; and with due heed, 
 In respect to the Theme, that we not pass the due border ; 
 
72 
 
 Impelling us to scan then what the motive may lead 
 Us, in respect of the Church and the Truth to research. 
 This motive then is, that in our bosom felt the need 
 
 Of some foundation of Kock, upon which we to perch. 
 
 And thence abroad at our beck send the fond hope to roam 
 Over the blissful inheritance told of in Church. 
 
 We had naturally to look in that ancient tome, 
 
 That so with wisdom is fraught it may never exhaust, 
 And sacred for me too, by the olden ties of home. 
 
 In my solitude then, I did earnestly accost 
 
 The wisdom of Heaven upon the Scriptural page ; 
 
 The world then, and the Church, from my sight entirely lost. 
 
 Friendly to both was I, but I had come to the age, 
 And the condition of mind, that led me io inquire 
 Of all things the meaning that do attention engage 
 
 As we travail in the world, and begin to aspire 
 After wisdom, shrinking the mind from worldly pursuits : 
 But not with private allusions, we mean now to tire ; 
 
 The Truth to contemplate, all the vanities confutes. 
 
 In that long research then, many bubbles were there burst, 
 And many talkers verbose quickly turned into Mutes ; 
 
' 73 
 
 Into the dust crumbled too, some tall structures of erst ; 
 
 Swept down were olden webs beneath antiquated arch ; 
 
 And freedom revived, until it boldly to think durst, 
 As to battle in its behoof the Patriot march 
 
 For his country, and I to think freely for mankind ; 
 
 Nor felt I any fear, but love for the Bands with starch. 
 Wonderful is the story and long, since left behind 
 
 Was the Truth by the Church, and by the people in mass ; 
 
 So long that waxed deaf, have many ears ; many eyes, blind ; 
 And confusion prevails ; and ignorance too, alas ! 
 
 Till with the Scriptures in hand, but few know what they mean : 
 
 The Church is divided now, between Supper and Mass ; 
 A* multitude of doctrines, for the Truth it doth ween ; 
 
 All in error. Confusion prevails, and words increase 
 
 Like insects into clouds until the Sun is not seen. 
 Breeding on the fields that did Persecution erst fleece. 
 
 Oh ! lamentable condition of Truth in the World, 
 
 The one law of Heaven, and for Man the path of peace : 
 Fallen man ; fallen : from Throne to him of right, self hurled 
 
 In every Generation. Pity, Oh ! Heaven, man 
 
 Degenerate and astray, for his Salvation burled 
 
74 
 
 With devices and arts, his ^lere skin to smear and tail, 
 And pass him into the Heaven in all of his sins. 
 God's Truth, certainly would be corrupted. It began 
 
 As in the Scriptures it told is ; whatsoever wins 
 A hold with mankind, forever rabidly is seized 
 Upon, and appropriated, and put to fill bins 
 
 Ever stretching and gulping Goods, Heaven be pleased 
 To us to accord, and go would to improve and bless 
 His poor and erring children ; and quickly are diseased 
 
 With qualities to attract and bring to coalesce 
 
 With them, the honors and riches, and all the goods men 
 Possess ; except perchance be some little Righteousness. 
 
 The Good, may from Heaven come, with its sanction, they then 
 Make to be a merchandize, and ofier it on sale : 
 They fabricate articles, and label them with pen, 
 
 And People that neglect them, they put out of the pale 
 Of Salvation ; and to take them and swallow, and pay 
 Have we, or doomed are in Hell to eternally wail. 
 
 It is plain. Men being wicked, and loving that way ; 
 And fond of indulgences, for them money require. 
 Would in the Goods merchandize that might Heaven display : 
 
7,^ 
 
 And so monopolized Truth was, by a Priestly choir 
 
 And by them doled out it was, in such forms they prescribed, 
 For the pay would allow them to wallow in the mire. 
 
 Truth restored, was corrupted, as in the Word described, 
 An unavoidable issue, foreseen and foretold ; 
 And on its own sacred Page in detail it inscribed ; 
 
 The same sequence repeated, that developed of old. 
 
 Adam fell from and corrupted Truth ; his children came 
 After, more still corrupting it ; Corruption thence bold, 
 
 The "World overran in divers form, and divers name, 
 
 Waxing till overwhelmed beneath the Rain and its wave : 
 Re-opened the field then, the World repeated its shame ; 
 
 And each Generation from its sins, now works to save 
 The Providence by its Word ; to obedience, trains 
 Of Truth : that gives of it knowledge, and makes for it crave, 
 
 And it seen, so natural, the multitude entrains, 
 Till even notable adventurers come to deem 
 It to notice deserve, and to occupy their Brains : 
 
 Then lay, and into the people fall, a cunning scheme. 
 Our God his love manifests ; labors to us persuade ; 
 His Prophets sends on the Earth, and his Son, to redeem 
 
76 
 JEis children, lead them all into His ways, give us aid 
 
 In them to stay : and they listen, and wonder, and feel ; 
 
 And follow : a miraculous Power is displayed : 
 Arrived hath of wonderful : enthusiasm and zeal 
 
 Glow and excite, the People follow in multitudes : 
 
 Powers, Principalities, before it stagger, reel ; 
 Persecution bristles up ; there rage the deadly feuds : 
 
 A Power is manifested that cannot be quenched ; 
 
 On the powers that be, it crowds, pushes and intrudes : 
 Then dextrously they arrogate, who before had blenched. 
 
CANTO III. 
 
 Not of the new, late been telling have I, but the old : 
 The sly wicked convert them, when might it is reforms. 
 Cunning is in Cowards ; but in a way it makes bold ; 
 
 And dextrously prudent is it, and subtly conforms 
 
 To the power would conquer ; and so the Truth it took 
 And speedily then fitted into such kinds and forms. 
 
 That would help and perpetuate the like it forsook. 
 
 They did not become Christians, but they took of them name : 
 And all their guile thence made to hail from the Sacred Book, 
 
 The Truth's own written page from whence Christians did proclaim 
 The glad tidings of Salvation for the whole mankind : 
 Salvation from their sins, to have, as by the surname ; 
 
 By means of the Truth, the light from Heaven for the Blind ; 
 The accurate way for us to go in and be saved. 
 But not from the sins was it, did they Salvation find ; 
 
 From their consequences, and the sins boldly they braved : 
 And dispensed from their consequences for a price paid ; 
 To them money, and Christ's blood and body shed and staved. 
 
78 
 
 The world continued on its way, with a little shade 
 
 Of difference, and the Church it bore with it along 
 
 Till foremost the Church, and the Truth behind it parade : 
 That not strange yet, and to you seeming so, ye are wrong ; 
 
 Without experience, or wisdom in worldly things. 
 
 That the Evil on the Good seize, always doth belong 
 To our history of Truth ; and they put it in strings, 
 
 And a servant they make it then, and with it enslave 
 
 They their fellow men, the Peoples, and Princes, and Kings 
 Whatever, sway have ; whoever have Power ; the brave 
 
 Men, and the wise ; the beautiful women, and the weak ; 
 
 They deign to receive, and promising to them all save ; 
 And array all in warfare against who take the freak 
 
 To, or would for Truth, hinder them to do as they please. 
 
 Corrupted the Christian Truth was, in plain terms to speak, 
 By its friends and believers, that they might then at ease 
 
 In all their pleasures indulge them, and hold a command 
 
 Over the world ; a predicate in Heaven's decrees, 
 But not therefore arresting the kind and helping hand. 
 
 All else and the present, are but the issue from thence ; 
 
 And behooves it, for return, ever to understand. 
 
79 
 
 That the Truth would be corrupted, is plain common sense ; 
 But to Truth to return, of the conscience plain dictate : 
 Nor let us delay it, nor longer straddle the fence. 
 
 The combat in words has quite come now to satiate ; 
 Let us to the -Scriptures go, as by the Telegraph : 
 Through all the clouds skipping, with a speed to compensate 
 
 For the ages of loitering in pleasure and laugh. 
 
 A hard work is there before us, and has to be done ; 
 No compromise can be now ; nor will doings by half 
 
 Our case answer longer. The Keform that was begun, 
 
 Three hundred years are since passed, let us now then complete, 
 And from the clouds the Truth emerge to shine like the Sun. 
 
 Once more now let us all the Sun of Righteousness greet, 
 And our patches and specifics forever renounce. 
 The voice that did erst speak to us, I hear it repeat. 
 
 And " wo unto you ye blind guides" I hear it pronounce ; 
 With the Scriptures in your hands, for you still to dole out 
 Such a pitiful Truth that ye do weekly announce, 
 
 Makes to crimson with blush for you : without any doubt 
 Ye may be often sincere, and the word ye now preach. 
 From your elders have ye learned, and perchance they devout ; 
 
80 
 
 But I counsel to every one that minding to teach 
 In the everlasting Gospel, he carefully weigh 
 The issues so fraught, ere taking his stand in the breach 
 
 Between wrath of the Lamb, and his fellow castaway ; 
 Into a peace falsely lulled by the doctrinal shifts : 
 The lull of the storm gathering to burst on its prey. 
 
 A sprinkling of common sense very readily sifts 
 Of doctrine the gist, to win the Heavenly estate, 
 By belief in it, how many soever its drifts : 
 
 And if ye have not good sense, better were to await 
 Its even slow coming, than to adventure and spread 
 The snare full of danger, and the illusory bait ; 
 
 With a flattering tale it is the heavenly bread. 
 
 Look ye into yourselves, and ye then the doctrine judge ; 
 It never gives any aid, to be helped by the dead 
 
 Heaven is ever gracious, nor owes it us a grudge, 
 It deals not in sacrifices and sheddings of bloods 
 Unless to tell Israel Truth : to doctrine say fudge ! 
 
 The Truth, set ye up high ; and cast ye down your old duds : 
 Be ye in righteousness, and by the sweat of the heart : 
 Cleanse ye out every mind, as the foul garments, soap suds 
 
, 81 
 
 Purge corruption of the nature, ye to it impart : 
 Disdain to pretend longer, there salvation in rite. 
 Or a virtue in yourselves, from antiquity start : 
 
 Take nought from authority, if it not also right ; 
 In yourselves be all in Charity, and also pure ; 
 And ye will see, and dispense the veritable light. 
 
 Study the Scriptures all well, and Theology cure ; 
 
 The erst smoke of the furnace from forth the flesh and bones 
 For a moment let rise from out its heap of false lure 
 
 From the faithful endeavor, the repentant atones ; 
 
 And between man and the Truth now interposing its cloud ; 
 Vanity of vanities, as the Preacher bemoans. 
 
 Expressions of the Truth in the Scriptures do so crowd 
 They preclude a theology is made up of words, 
 And Truth envelopes in worse than the grave's winding shroud. 
 
 Study ye for the Truth ; only this it is that girds 
 
 Us up with a true strength and wisdom ; and stimulates 
 To the eloquence, will bring Converts by the hundreds. 
 
 Heaven's Will is the Truth, for mankind be it, or States ; 
 And into them to put it, would be to regulate 
 
 The world : your function is lofty ; your reward awaits 
 
 5* 
 
82 
 
 On terms and conditions that ye carefully instate 
 
 In your ministering lives, just the same would acquit 
 The office assumed have ye ; that, not merely to prate, 
 
 Or thoughts of vanity scatter, though carefully writ : 
 For I you assure, mistaken have ye the true course 
 To put into the man's life, what true Heaven's own wit 
 
 For his salvation : your weekly so labored discourse 
 
 Never will the sinners convert from their hardened ways, 
 Nor the sanctions of Truth and Love on their hearts enforce. 
 
 The one man concern you, and how ever ye may raise 
 Him from indifference and evil ; and to concern 
 For himself; that is to convert him ; to your great praise. 
 
 The Individual man must be brought to discern 
 A way is there to go in, and will for him procure 
 A destiny and crown deserve endeavor to earn ; 
 
 And earning, the way it only might ever endure. 
 
 Ye, my friends, are not bound by any doctrine of yore ; 
 Truth is all your wisdom to make the converts secure : 
 
 Truth is all and the whole, ye cannot add any more : 
 
 Only this, this, was thought^worthy to bring Heaven down 
 Even unto Earth, that to Heaven the man then soar. 
 
83 
 
 He avowed so explicitly, when Pilate would crown 
 
 The plots of conspirators, whom their own law had hurled, 
 To crucify the Christ, in the outskh'ts of their town, 
 
 " To this end" " and for this cause came I into the world 
 That I should bear witness unto the Truth ;" heard his voice 
 Is, by all of Truth are, but now the Banners unfurled. 
 
 All are of doctrine, and dovetailed together like joists 
 To a mere scaffolding frame, and build the vacant house 
 That each devil possesses, and there slavers and foists : 
 
 And Temple of God uses for a devil's carouse, 
 
CANTO IV. 
 
 Deem ye, that dilating I am thus, Oh friends, and grief 
 Not hang, in woful and shrunken aspects, down the cheek 
 And whole countenance ; yea, more than weeping willow's leaf 
 
 Drooping deject ; have the haggard lines ever to speak 
 Truth so humiliating, and nigh despairing hope ! 
 It is not, that is the man incompetent, and weak, 
 
 Against Evil unable to conqueringly cope, 
 
 But that the Will will not will it ; and wills to indulge 
 Its own whims ; and not ever to purge with fuller's soap 
 
 The heart, till the countenance with radiance refulge 
 That worldly eye not look on it, and mortally shake 
 Fleshly tenement, till hollow gaspings nigh life bulge, 
 
 As when, who in Truth lived from the dead rose with earthquake. 
 Degenerate Man ; and Preacher ; how then will ye stand 
 In the Judgment day ; when from the dead ye shall awake ; 
 
 And nothing showing of Righteousness in either hand ; 
 And find you in the ranks, alas ! close stand on the left, 
 For ye did not nor taught Truth, as the divine command. 
 
85 
 
 I beseech you, the foreskin of your blindness be cleft : 
 
 Your eyes, open to the Truth, the Christ ye have so shent ; 
 The scales of your darkness all let be swiftly bereft : 
 
 Mourn, repent, and pray for the Holy Spirit's descent 
 
 Upon you, so long grieved by your blindness ; and your eyes 
 Be opened, and all things ye learn ; and heavenly sent 
 
 Be, to preach to the Gentiles, of the Light that arise 
 Did of the Sun of Righteousness, to quicken the Dead : 
 Show to them their evil ; and if they will, make them wise. 
 
 Ye have the Truth to find out now, and Truth then to spread 
 On the Earth ; to illumine the benightened ; dark places 
 To make shine ; and the man to lead loftily to tread 
 
 Upon it, in Truth and Righteousness, and all the graces 
 Put on in life, by Truth on the Nature are begotten : 
 And repau^ our long tissues of falls, woes and disgraces. 
 
 And to find have ye, your doctrines and service are rotten ; 
 Your indulgences to be tasked are, down to the mast 
 The Prophet of old fed, not I trust by you forgotten, 
 
 But to you all I say, study the Scriptures, and fast. 
 
 Hold the Scriptures for redemption, the Wisdom from Heaven 
 Came, and by them your books quite overtaken and passed : 
 
86 
 
 Their language is plain and wise, and their food without leaven 
 
 The pure natural elements, and blood that impure ; 
 
 And all taught with miracles by disciples eleven : 
 One traitor in twelve ; and seeming few now to be sure : 
 
 But my plain words, I pray you do not misunderstand. 
 
 Oh ! study the Scriptures and of their wisdom procure ; 
 But to write on them forbear ye, till known where ye land. 
 
 Your office, to put the Truth is into all Mankind, 
 
 And for it, you have to take every man by the hand 
 And him miserable, poor, blind and naked, will find ; 
 
 If looking as ye ought, and ye call on every man. 
 
 The covenant of God, is to put into our mind 
 His laws, and graciously write them in our hearts ; the plan, 
 
 And of much common sense, that ye have to execute ; 
 
 The Laws are of the Truth, the counterparts in its span, 
 And for most part relate to the partaking of fruit ; 
 
 Taking, partly they forbid, and selection commend 
 
 In all taking whatsoever, to get that just suit 
 With happiness and welfare at and after life's end ; 
 
 And so long as we are wending it also below ; 
 
 A proceeding with virtue fraught, may strength to us lend ; 
 
,87 . 
 
 While its complacency now, endow will such a glow 
 Of mind and feeling, and satisfaction in the heart, 
 That self-written the laws in it by a process slow, 
 
 But sure ; fulfilling the covenant in either part ; 
 And we become a People unto God then, and He 
 A God unto us ; and from His remembrance depart 
 
 Our sins and iniquities, by a Grace wholly free : 
 
 The sins of the Past ; and we have learned to sin no more. 
 In this way of Salvation, friends, have ye to agree. 
 
 And then working ye with God ; who full of Grace, mourns o'er 
 His children, hapless for truthless, and wo then entail 
 On them, of a reach and duration none can explore. 
 
 So plain way of safety then, let it not appear stale 
 To you, because old, and also in the Scriptures told, 
 Though not of doctrine, and it put you out of the pale 
 
 Of the Church that is now, howsoever it be old : 
 The Scripture also is old, and also ye can read, 
 That in time past could many not, of the bought and sold 
 
 Or hired to accuse, and many others then make bleed, 
 
 Or to burn, or to the torture endure, or to spend, . [feed 
 Their life long, their, days in the prison's glooms and worms 
 
On their bones unburied ; biit to Heaven Souls ascend. 
 
 These things, I do so recall to you, came all of course 
 
 Because men, Truth told to them, to it- did not attend 
 Except to corrupt, and claim themselves to be its source. 
 
 For which cause I have warned you to not look so far back ; 
 
 Or if so, to further look, when your claims ye enforce 
 The true Church to be ; and to look also what ye lack 
 
 By the standard and Authority, the Scriptures saint ; 
 
 But care not a fig for whatsoever the attack 
 That more modernly dates than does that ancient restraint 
 
 On every innovation or corruption of now ; 
 
 And examining, be sure ye have not any taint 
 Of them or the like ; nor claw of the milliped sow 
 
 Of evil still hankering in your heart's mouldy soil ; 
 
 And the ploughshare drive deep, to it all out of you plough. 
 To find the Truth out ye have, all the vermin to foil 
 
 That so fondle do and hanker where kindles desire, 
 
 And that around our affections so lovingly coil. 
 I have spoken here plainly, friends, the case did require 
 
 It. If ye will thank me, I know not ; but I acquit 
 
 My conscience, and more freely in my bosom respire. 
 
89 
 
 But deem not for that I will my care for you demit ; 
 
 Enlisted for the war am, or till our Freedom won : 
 
 Or till I get my discharge by of Death shaft and hit. 
 The task that is laid on me, I have only begun ; 
 
 Many years have I toiled ; but I am still fresh and hearty ; 
 
 And frisky as the Spright beneath the light of the Sun ; 
 I belong to no sect, am of the whole People's Party, 
 
 And so free with them -all, they will all let me alone 
 
 While for them I battle with a mistaken Hierarchy, 
 I am kindly disposed, and would lead you to atone, 
 
 Not with blood of yours shed, or of the Saviour, ye say, 
 
 For the Past that is gone, and then no longer our own ; 
 But with return to the Truth : to preach in it, and pray, 
 
 And in it live altogether, with all might and main : 
 
 To live in, to show it is, and nobly it display. 
 Your image of Truth showing ye, in sunshine or rain. 
 
 Ye would have common sense then, and the People would greet 
 
 You, and would talk with you, and your talk then would be plain ; 
 And ye would learn just the wisdom the man's case would meet ; 
 
 To put Truth into men, then* falls have ye to correct. 
 
 The Law of God is Love, and our Paths to it replete 
 
90 
 
 With Temptation, Truth defends ; and ye have to direct 
 In Truth, in general, and the particular case 
 When the breach evident made, or may come by neglect, 
 
 And its symptoms ye discern, in mood, manner, or face. 
 I would fain help in the work ye undertake to do ; 
 In the way of their nature, to lead all men to race ; 
 
 And to it by persuasion, not threats, is he to woo. 
 I pray you then to well look, and take care how ye go ; 
 A case is to manage where man stakes him, as at loo ; 
 
 And the issue for you both, is with bliss fraught, or wo. 
 
CANTO V. 
 
 A drear way had I to come over, and took a stock 
 Of ammunitioH with me, but now out of the woods 
 A bit ; will take my stand on the immovable Rock 
 
 Of our Salvation, and open out my stock of Goods. 
 
 This Rock is the Truth ; and what it is, have partly told, 
 But more of it is, to well we distinguish our foods, 
 
 A class of fruit, not so strictly of the bought and sold 
 As is some of it, but yet taken for nourishment : 
 In the Temple, or from the page the Bookbinders fold ; 
 
 Or the weekly newspaper, hath now such flourishment ; 
 Or sermon, our worship more engrossing than of old ; 
 Or the tract by the wayside, of such cheap furnishment ; 
 
 All whatever our Foods should be of Truth's virgin gold ; 
 This then I would furnish, in a market where it scarce ; 
 And so came over that way, that to dare it is bold : 
 
 And the enemies will be seen yet, and are not sparse. 
 But my stock of ammunition I have in reserve, 
 And have not so long toiled, to have it end in a farce. 
 
92 
 
 My Goods are of the Truth^ and are the Truth to preserve ; 
 
 And to restore and to maintain it in every land ; 
 
 And a Church make, or recover, your faith will deserve. 
 The Truth is my staple, and of the Christ having brand, 
 
 And in stuffs may be assorted, to meet every want ; 
 
 But not wrought by the loom are, by the mind and the hand 
 And so exacting, they bring may the buffet and taunt : 
 
 A scrutiny need and challenge, their worth to discern, 
 
 And nothing is there to show, will or flatter or flaunt. 
 To acquire or enjoy them needs to feel a concern, 
 
 And to choose always the stuff, the want perfectly suit ; 
 
 And the pure greed it supply, in the nature doth yearn. 
 The virtues of Truth are, to take ever the just fruit. 
 
 And in exactly just measure on every occasion ; ' 
 
 And that evil not enter, sight and watch be acute, 
 And then your garments of Truth be, and free of abrasion ; 
 
 Or of Righteousness, that then is the Truth's proper name ; 
 
 Just the staple I furnish, and wrought without evasion ; 
 Righteousness the whole wrapper, and inner garments same. 
 
 Well suiting with your nature, and will keep you in health. 
 
 Many virtues you need will, as playing your whole game, 
 
9.^ 
 
 Or inventory in detail, to take of your wealth ; 
 
 Honesty, of the Truth is comprehensivie expression. 
 
 Avoiding Temptation, and incapable of stealth ; 
 Prudence another is, keeps your spirits from depression, 
 
 And a broad stream of contentment, ever your life flows ; 
 
 Valor is a third, of vice and trouble the repression ; 
 Simplicity a fourth is, and puts out no false blows ; 
 
 Sincerity guards, and accruing error excuses ; 
 
 And Purity charms and exalts, more than any knows, 
 A virtue, that every speck of the evil refuses ; 
 
 And of Eden's commandment a fulfilment expresses ; 
 
 That general, ye know, commandment from all abuses ; 
 The Truth ; and the inclination to evil suppresses, 
 
 And would entitle to Heaven without a salvation 
 
 Whoever temptation invariably represses. 
 Of the classes of my Goods have ye now full relation, 
 
 And for further particulars, I pray all to look ; 
 
 And furnish of each article the denomination. 
 This variety, my friends, came because we forsook 
 
 The Truth ; when circumstances arose so passing strange, 
 
 And with such names, that it needed to commence a Book 
 
94 
 
 And write them down, to keep a reckoning of their range. 
 
 The world fell into Evil then of so many kinds, 
 
 And the Providence willing to operate a change. 
 It many of them recorded, as every one finds ^ 
 
 Who will examine in the Scriptures as that Book styled, 
 
 Where are lessons and light on them, and not any blinds ; 
 And every one sees them, by his evil not beguiled, 
 
 That hath a strange efficacy to darken the sight. 
 
 Those lessons have virtue, to learn beginning the child, 
 To take, that drear way over, safe and sound every sprite : 
 
 Not to say we never slip do, and not sometimes fall. 
 
 But these teaching, repenting we come to them despite ; 
 And to at length be our natural selves all in alL 
 
 Never, friends, to be abject, is the way to please God ; 
 
 Nor tell must we our nature has by evil shrunk small, 
 We could not get to Heaven then even by the rod. 
 
 That our Nature, of God, and of His hands we the work ; 
 
 Keeps pace with us corrupting, as we wickedly plod, 
 Is a device makes our enemy chuckle and smirk. 
 
 He makes us then his prisoners without any trouble : 
 
 It was only a contrivance to help out the kirk 
 
95 
 
 And for outlays excessive, its income more than double. 
 To buy witii money Salvation, and keep in our sins, 
 Seems for sound men of business to be but a bubble ; 
 
 To hold stock certificates with flowery margins 
 More worthless than paper notes redeemable in lands, 
 And that scarcely used but in speculative bargains ; 
 
 A mere shift for escape from the Truth's stringent demands. 
 My friends, no longer do ye count to have your own way 
 Till from all your monstrosities clean washed are your hands ; 
 
 Growing old now is Time, and approaching is the day 
 When, to Truth the whole witness will have wrought its avail. 
 I have sought as I travailed all excuses might weigh 
 
 To soften the reproaches ought to make you look pale : 
 But I have still been forced back as was Balaam of erst 
 When for Israel the curse, in his throat thrice grew stale ; 
 
 Nor yet aught have felt in me, to make call you accurst. 
 Oh ! no, you too I love, and all of my fellow-men. 
 And would have them to be gOds, our destiny from first : 
 
 And you to respond to it, with the hearty Amen ! 
 
 Oh ! awake ye from all your sloth, ye Priestly company ; 
 Af ound you look, and see growing, what harvest of fen ; 
 
96 
 
 And see if your travail might not help to not' slump any ; 
 
 Look into the Scriptures, and as ye therein compare 
 
 With the lows ye are offering, see if there trump any 
 Might reward who well striving for the truthful and fair. 
 
 Oh ! I am pained, nor ever comfort there is for me 
 
 While the error and evil in the World do so stare. 
 This Moral Being Man, if we will only agree 
 
 In the Scriptural account of us, the possessor is 
 
 Of the nature and estate, and also legatee 
 If he will, of the destiny, and all accessories. 
 
 Of the Heavenly Beings, same family and Strain ; 
 
 And doubtful it is if under Grod order other is. 
 The Universe that vast stretching through the broad blue main, 
 
 God, who Love is, and would have many whom to love, built 
 
 For his beloved, and they all pure and without stain : 
 He chose the Earth, and Eden set here, to never wilt 
 
 Its green, or fade its flowers, or blossoms till they fruit ; 
 
 And us he put here, man and woman, and charged to till 't ; 
 With many trees in, bearing beautiful fruit, to suit 
 
 All our wants and desires, and we be perfectly blest ; 
 
 All free for us to take from, and more than to compute ; 
 
97 
 
 And there was a tree in the midst, among all the rest, 
 
 The tree of life called, and of its fruit to take, made gods ; 
 
 But to take forbidden : and close by, a tree for test. 
 Of knowledge of Good and Evil called, and that has pods ; 
 
 And its fruit too forbidden was, and this told the Truth ; 
 
 And to obey, was life, but transgression bring grave clods ; 
 Tempted, they disobeyed ; and followed then their grievous ruth, 
 
 And they were banished from near where the tree of life stood ; 
 
 The Woman conceived then, and since, and brought forth the 
 Youth: 
 And to not take that fruit, ay Truth done and understood. 
 
 6 
 
CANTO VI. 
 
 I have assorted my Groods now, and have advertised, 
 
 And they will bring a Salvation, with the aid of Grace, 
 
 Upon truly repenting ; as ought we when baptized : 
 Or the infants thereafter, and their sponsors replace. 
 
 I commend to you earnestly, to take of my wares ; 
 
 They will keep you in health, and make to look well in face. 
 And assist will and cheer you in your labors and cares. 
 
 I count, it will be pleasant for you in Truth to teach ; 
 
 Ye will know where ye are, not be taken unawares ; 
 A lofty eloquence I count, of the Truth to preach. 
 
 And be felt will by your hearers ; with a wonder now ; 
 
 I count it for love in you, to the Truth to beseech 
 By the mercies of God ; for would salvation endow : 
 
 I count it of the conscience, to the Truth to command. 
 
 And fear not, well showing it, the nature not allow. 
 I count it success for you, the Truth to understand. 
 
 And by all of your fellows make to be understood ; 
 
 And the way is, to do, and climb up hand over hand : 
 
99 
 
 To do J in your calling, and going round doing good. 
 
 Truth makes and hatli the right upon every thing to touch ; 
 
 And commands, from the pretenders to strip off the hood ; 
 But lovingly always, and sorrowing, very much : 
 
 Not otherwise do, can ye, if in Truth ye have stayed. 
 
 Much earnestness in Truth, of Truth is, and many such 
 Qualities has ; but shows indolence. Truth not obeyed. 
 
 With your writing and reading, ye would mostly have done, 
 
 When versed in Truth well ; that it by you then be conveyed 
 With loving labor, and diligence nigh on the run. 
 
 Into the mind of your fellows, and writ in each heart : 
 
 Nor ever for the masses, neglect ye any one. 
 Your instruction, to the Individual impart, 
 
 And the sermon not missed then, if for this cause it fail ; 
 
 But mighty the other be, with of eloquence art. 
 And can ye but be eloquent, with Truth for your tale ; 
 
 And the Truth in your heart, of Inspiration the strain ? 
 
 Ye straining, that your fellows of Salvation not fail : 
 For even have the best yet, that they sin, to complain. 
 
 Truth kindles a fire in you, makes enthusiasm glow : 
 
 With all things will acquaint you, and with much that is vain ; 
 
ioo 
 
 And that ye to neglect then have never to be slow : 
 
 Truth banishes mysteries, they will stand not a moment 
 ^ If with Truth they confronted be ; back take them below, 
 Or wheresoever it be whence their fulsome bestowment ; 
 
 The sects that so abounding are, the Truth would soon banish. 
 
 Sectarianism, of sheer vanity is the foment ; 
 With embrace of the Truth, its swell and emptiness vanish : 
 
 A one spirit and brotherhood are then all pervading, 
 
 Nor longer any selfishness, or feuds that are clannish. 
 Your whole time would be given, to the Truth in persuading : 
 
 And in your bosoms peace and joy, ye count would for blest. 
 
 Thus have ye an idea of my own way of trading 
 In the goods I have told you I brought through the forest ; 
 
 And I pray you to ponder it, though given you gratis. 
 
 And here on one doctrine I for a moment arrest 
 Now, and treating somewhat of the heavenly estate is ; 
 
 And has also been considered in books of Divinity : 
 
 And touching our Individual and common fate is ; 
 A vibrating notion between Unity and Trinity ; 
 
 But the Truth has a virtue to bring all into one ; 
 
 And they both are the same, or of same kind, to Infinity. 
 
101 
 
 In fine, to know the Truth, will acquaint you how be done 
 Every part of the work that ye hav0 taken upon you. 
 And every thing of the moral done under the Sun. 
 
 Ye will have to work hard, with so high wisdom to don you ; 
 But with love still growing, will a pleasure in it find 
 Far greater and purer than any hitherto con you. 
 
 Oh ! ye brethren and friends, sorrowfully it doth bind 
 In my heart, and straiten the sympathies in it glow, 
 While I do thus through the doctrinal crookedness wind 
 
 And dust of degeneracy from its corners blow : 
 And let us refresh us then, if ye give your consent. 
 With Truth that should replace it, and the pure flush bestow. 
 
 God in love formed us, and so placed us we have content 
 All the days of our life in the Earthly Paradise, 
 Would we only be willing our enjoyments to stent 
 
 Within limits, such, ever leave us would pure and nice. 
 But to this we demurred, and are demurring till now : 
 Yet that Love and that stake fgr us, are beyond all price, 
 
 Nor idly consent. Love would, such issue to allow ; 
 Then to work it began, and came Wisdom to its aid : 
 But Love only can labor, a wisdom to endow 
 
102 
 
 That, in our taking all fruits, make us justly afraid ; 
 
 And lead us, resources in our nature to employ 
 
 That, digesting our fruits, leave not of Evil a shade ; 
 Purposing then with Grace, to purge erst accrued alloy : 
 
 And the virtue of its discipline, it calls salvation ; 
 
 Telling admirably its means, the work, and their joy : 
 But not worked out that purpose, to infer is damnation ; 
 
 By the drift of the terms, the inevitable case ; 
 
 Altogether manifest, to entire demonstration. 
 Earth duly prepared for, and Man formed to be, a Race, 
 
 Discloses the apprehension that felt in advance ; 
 
 And Time had therefore birth, that we retrieve us apace, 
 Or with whatever speed we be willing to enhance. 
 
 Our fall was, to, from Truth that enjoined on us, depart. 
 
 Then returning, we re-enter the Heavenly Manse ; 
 That, whole drift of salvation, and all of Heaven's art. 
 
 To the erring man conduct in its mansions to dwell ; 
 
 Its purpose and efficacy, to cure the man's heart 
 Of love of Evil, that would perforce take him to Hell, 
 
 And cure also the exposure by which he so frail ; 
 
 Inalienable in whom the moral fullness well. 
 
103 
 
 These thoughts are, Oh friends, of Truth, though they seem to 
 you stale 
 
 Compared with your doctrine and the Telegraphic speed 
 
 Ye would impart to the race to enter Heaven's Pale ; 
 But is the slow and sure way, and demands a due heed 
 
 In the whole of our wayfare, or greater part at least ; 
 
 And for this would I carefully impress with its need. 
 Lofty the Roll is, to take your fellows to the feast 
 
 Of all the Heavenly joys, that are never to end ; 
 
 To be in Christ's stead, and in his Temple be the Priest 
 To the earthly Pilgrim to show all his way to wend, 
 
 And still in it keep him till he enter on his Rest. 
 
 And ye will pardon me, when I diligence commend 
 That your task ye well acquit, and your fellows make Blest. 
 
 I am anxious for you, when seeing how all things shape 
 
 In our time, and fear lest ye fill not your high behest. 
 I tremble full often for the wrapped hat in its crape 
 
 Telling me of Immortal is gone to his account, 
 
 And fear that of the Heaven he have not made the rape 
 As the Scriptures command, and will not thither then mount : 
 -And tremble for you too, lest not filled ye have your stent, 
 
 And of life's drift not well warned have, to its full amount 
 
104 
 
 Of consequence impregnate, and the whole issue blent 
 In this probatory warfare in his youthful days : 
 And lest his beautiful hope have forever been shent. 
 
 I pray you to apply you to amend all our ways, 
 Ye have a chance of high glory and honor up there 
 For the children ye take there, and of High Heaven's praise 
 
 As may the greed of its love have been soothed by your care 
 And watchfulness, and the erring been led to its fold 
 At the end of their earthly probatory wayfare. 
 
 Farewell ; may you and I there one another behold. 
 
COLUMBIA 
 
COLUMBIA. 
 
 CANTO I. 
 
 Noble our Theme; nor its length, or breadth, or depth, allows 
 To be measured ; nor wholly the Algebraic letter 
 Even, its indefinite scope in the mind endows : 
 
 A Continent to the world lost, to thence be begetter 
 
 By a fraught and just sequence, in the womb of the Past, 
 Of a wisdom than the erst by far higher and better. 
 
 Thou, the lone Columbia, forgotten, and outcast 
 
 From the World ; hast to play yet the illustrious Part 
 To all the "World save, that by the evil long held fast. 
 
 Wondrous the Providence ; and its Prophecy our chart, 
 We trace out of its wonders on the Future attend ; 
 Yet must we understand, in our evil it took start ; 
 
 And out of this the Providen<je would have us ascend : 
 
 A task of its love, and most lovingly by it filled, 
 
 ' And to lead us to fulfil ; and all our ways amend. 
 
108 
 
 God created the Earth ; and the man, by whom be tilled ; 
 Earth a garden of beauty, and man a living soul, 
 In of Grod image and likeness, and within Soul thrilled : 
 
 And told him He Truth, and charged in it to live, in whole : 
 But known that we did not ; and we were scattered about 
 On the Earth, over the sea and land from Pole to Pole ; 
 
 All duly laid out, to cure the Evil grew so stout ; 
 And man sent for beginning it, out of Paradise. 
 Then timely it came about, the dry land was laid out 
 
 In its four Quarters, or Parts, each a principal slice ; 
 With seas rolling between them, that not easy to pass, 
 Just making of the Earth, the four divisions precise ; 
 
 And subsisting on each, for the Providence a class 
 To all their ways overlook, and to Truth aid return : 
 Kept the evil of either to not whelm the whole mass. 
 
 From so brief introduction proceed we now to learn. 
 That expended, of the Red Man his gist to enhance, 
 A fire to roam and discover, was kindled to burn 
 
 In Christopher Columbus, as passing circumstance. 
 
 To search for the Quarter would be the fourth on the Globe ; 
 And willing the Providence, his Court made the advance, 
 
109 
 
 Three vessels to fit out that would take him to far probe 
 In the Ocean waye, and find Columbia's fair land : 
 By nature in beauty decked, but the man scarce with robe 
 
 To his nakedness coyer ; and his skin sadly tanned : 
 
 The ground but little tilled, and the mind worse eyen skilled 
 Nature eyery where swaying, but all idle the hand : 
 
 The man lazy and listless ; and strongly he self-willed ; 
 Ignorant he of Grod, but not of worship devoid, 
 And to Spirit it rendering ; and the impulse thrilled 
 
 In him, of a life beyond the grave, that unalloyed. 
 
 The virtues he knew also, that would make our life blest ; 
 And often transgressed them, and with the e\dl too coyed. 
 
 He had many traditions ; and they went to attest 
 They had better days seen ; and so were degenerate : 
 Of the good and bad were they ; and they felt the behest 
 
 Of the conscience, and obey would, or deliberate ; 
 
 Like ourselves felt temptation, and indulged or repressed ; 
 Same convictions and desires did in them animate ; 
 
 That they ought to do Good, and Evil did, they confessed ; 
 And their virtues and their vices would better compare 
 Than our own, with the light each respectively possessed ; 
 
no 
 
 But scarce strove for better .than they actually were. 
 Fallen had they, fallen had, like the sear autumn leaf : 
 And yield up then* places must they to who strive and dare. 
 
 The striving, they are, who have some kind of a belief 
 There is something to strive after, and would it achieve ; 
 And just to such accords Heaven its aid and relief ; 
 
 And Indian must fall in with them, or die or leave. 
 Thus came hither the Europeans, and they were sent 
 By Heaven, its children on the Earth all to retrieve : 
 
 Or by Persecution were driven here, for dissent 
 
 From such doctrines and rites and usages, it was claimed 
 Would them save, aud they did neither believe nor consent 
 
 To depend on salvation men so hewed out and framed : 
 
 Or they came to seek their fortunes,- and get lands and gold 
 By treaty or by force, or in ways otherwise named : 
 
 And many good came, and some bad, and all of them bold ; 
 Little children and wives also, and they of old age ; 
 And articles brought with them, and to the Indians sold 
 
 For lands, with also some money ; as bargain did wage. 
 The old world of Europe thus came over to the New : 
 So they it called ; they came to act on another stage : 
 
Ill 
 
 Here came they to better them, and afresh to renew 
 
 All the struggles of life upon a field that 'was free ; 
 
 With the Scriptures in hand, and to read them too they knew. 
 Such Grovernment they fancied, they had but to agree 
 
 And forthwith establish it ; their laws framed they to suit 
 
 With the views they most cherished had, in kind and degree : 
 They were wise as the World was, in regard to all fruit ; 
 
 The impulse that had brought them here, was still in them fresh . 
 
 Kept them industry and danger alert, and astute ; 
 Many reverencing God, and subduing the flesh : 
 
 Watched them the Indian too, and spread the wily snare 
 
 That would their goods or their lives entangle in the mesh : 
 There was all, kept alive a soli<3itude and care ; 
 
 Led to ask Heaven's protection, and obey its will. 
 
 Its thought was impressed on them in all of their wayfare ; 
 Want and trouble beset them much, and went to instil 
 
 A sense of dependence on, and heed of Heaven's laws ; 
 
 And a watchfulness by day, and all through the night still. 
 Heedful were they of the Creator, Ruler, and Cause 
 
 Of all things, and their dependence upon Him, they felt ; 
 
 The temptation that waked in them, then made them to pause ; 
 And piously morn and eve before Heaven they knelt. 
 
CANTO II. 
 
 Such circumstance, so passingly I just now detailed, 
 Suited I deem well to found an Empire of the Brave 
 Against the Evil accumulating, and entailed. 
 
 So happily for them left beyond the Ocean wave. 
 
 And the Scriptures too, that printed just shortly before. 
 And timely impulse came, from Persecution to save ; 
 
 It would seem that the Providence had opened the door 
 Unto the Grood and the Brave to come hither to dwell, 
 And still further be trained here ; and train others yet more 
 
 And Truth be found out again, aAd in Bosom fast well. 
 But not all at once, so great enterprize be achieved, 
 The plans of the Providence will take ages to tell ; 
 
 And behooves that we first have in some measure believed ; 
 And experimental trial, and drill too, be made 
 In van of the undertaking by which Man retrieved 
 
 Nor yet fetter on his liberty or will be laid. 
 
 But the years now are passed, such that Israel sojourned 
 In Groshen's pasture land and made Pharaoh afraid : 
 
113 
 
 We have waxed to be strong, and to the evil have turned ; 
 
 And the epoch has arrived, to chose whom we will serve ; 
 
 And idols we sacrifice to, be cast down and burned : 
 We have the law and Prophets, and let us them preserve ; 
 
 We have too~the Truth, and let us obey it and live. 
 
 Righteousness exalts a nation, and same too will nerve 
 To acquit us, till with due heed may Heaven forgive. 
 
 Let us purge and fill up our truths, till we have one pure ; 
 
 Commit our idols to the flames, and our worship give 
 In Truth and in Spirit to God ; and resist the lure 
 
 To fruit in the least evil ; and in righteousness gird 
 
 Us up, despite temptation ; and in all fast endure. 
 The Brave them defend, and from armory of the Word 
 
 All equipments they draw, and of Minerva erst shield ; 
 
 And th' enemy to vanquish, but needs to have demurred : 
 Only scorn and pass by him, and you conquer the field. 
 
 My countrymen and friends, whose bold fathers hither came. 
 
 By impulse in them welled, against dangers their hearts steeled ; 
 I tell you, it was the Providence did them inflame ; 
 
 Bent, evil to break up, and put to rout through the world. 
 
 The ages had long wended, and drooped with evil's «hame ; 
 
114 
 
 The steams of men's sacrifices in profane wreaths curled 
 Up to Heaven, a stink in the nostrils of who sways ; 
 And uttered lorn lamentations, that its man be burled 
 
 Of the throne his of right, and to evil slave obeys ; 
 Then to make a diversion, the erst project matures. 
 Into the foe's counsels, a beam of wisdom it rays, 
 
 To the passion there rules, provides incentive allures : 
 A new World for its domain Superstition's greed fires, 
 The fund, despite avarice, it grudgingly procures, 
 
 And even counts, and justly, it is Heaven inspires : [like 
 
 (But Heaven's ways not like man's are, nor are its thoughts 
 Man's thoughts) : the greed then obeys, who yet not pulls the 
 wires. 
 
 The Flotilla departs, and the third voyage doth strike 
 On the Continent to World lost, but thence to exert 
 Its sway for all the good ; and against evil build dyke 
 
 That stay its booming wave, and build man to high desert. 
 I say, the Providence, and destiny of mankind ; 
 For to vindicate Truth, and with its strength have man girt : 
 
 All walking in the light, whom did their Evil erst blind ; 
 Beneath his own vine and fig-tree, the man in peace dwell : 
 And pure flowers and fruits gather, that may each one find. 
 
115 
 
 Needs not that we now tell, the dire circumstance befel 
 Heaven's sei-vant to discover ; Hero of the age : 
 He for Heaven wrought well, and did world for it excel ; 
 
 And that we called not by his name, the more let engage 
 His high virtues to cherish, and poetize his name 
 Endeared in our hearts, upon immortalizing Page : 
 
 Of Virtue and Truth, and Heaven's agent, tell his Fame. 
 And now in Columbia doth the white man preside. 
 And the yellow, will subdue ; and his savage mood tame : 
 
 The good, the evil, together working side by side ; 
 But difficulty, danger, to the good give their aid, 
 / Their friends in straits, and till victory for them decide. 
 
 Thence, Mankind hither came, till the whole world nigh portrayed, 
 And we waxed so, we made us an independent Nation ; 
 Now of seventy and five years, but five months delayed ; 
 
 And it is time we began to work out our salvation. 
 And prepare for the high task that upon us is laid ; 
 The whole world to admonish of impending damnation 
 
 That incurred by its evil, and make of it afraid, 
 
 With a holy fear of who loves, and who holds the reins 
 Of our destiny, and scales wherein all to be weighed. 
 
116 
 
 And to evil and good meet and just award remains. 
 
 Oh ! then let us tremble before Him, and bow us down 
 
 With humility, and purge from us all evil stains. 
 We have forgotten Him now, on plain, hill, and in town ; 
 
 Little are thinking of Him, are going our own way. 
 
 The way of the wicked, and upon it He doth frown. 
 A pit are we building, and in it will go and stay, 
 
 If we turn us not repentant, we cleanse not our hearts ; 
 
 And purge its garner for love, and the whole Truth obey. 
 We may us call religious, but our Religion starts 
 
 And stays in doctrines, that with the Reason we contrive ; 
 
 And no Spirit of Truth to our hearts and lives imparts : 
 Distraction confounding us, while Truth scarcely survive 
 
 Under blows to it dealt, and universal neglect. 
 
 Every where are the Scriptures, but Truth is not alive 
 In our way or our knowledge, and its poor shadow decked 
 
 In so tawdry appendages, it cannot be seen : 
 
 For the profit of life's voyage, we are all nigh wrecked, 
 By the Pilots us steer, and not the way, nor Truth, ween. 
 
CANTO III. 
 
 Shown now, how we situate ; how it chanced let us glean. 
 From the old: world came we hither, as I before said ; 
 And some merchandize brought from it, and some of its sheen. 
 
 We came such that they were, and we ; and all of the dead : 
 Or to it we were near, for not seeing the true light 
 Heaven shed, and over the world commanded be spread : 
 
 We are claiming to have the light, but covered is quite 
 With inventions to garnish it, and make it appear 
 More inviting to the common worldly appetite. 
 
 But Heaven did never shed it, nor made it so clear 
 
 To our plain common sense, that we mankind still improve, 
 And teach it is to violate without any fear ; 
 
 That to believe certain things, it indeed doth behoove 
 All, to enter the way opens to Heaven's abode : 
 And the way they make smooth, as on the railway to move, 
 
 Swift and easy, and no care on our travail bestowed. 
 And of such we here brought, and here have it to expel 
 From the now doctrine of Truth, that to Heaven the road : 
 
US 
 
 Nor tell we, what to Heaven take, but what save from Hell ; 
 That should not be in thought, but Truth wholly occupy ; 
 That, seeking for it diligently, always, would tell 
 
 The Path is to take, and that will conduct to the sky. 
 To work have we, and it cheering too, and will not tire, 
 And much trouble save us will also, after we die. 
 
 I said we are all dead, and not the less we respire 
 
 The Breath, is life of flesh ; but dead, seeing not nor glowing 
 We with light of Truth, nor even after it inquire : 
 
 In indifference dead, that inveterately growing. 
 
 We not knowing, nor scarcely feeling the Truth, it follows 
 That we of the dead are, for Truth is life and light flowing ; 
 
 But Evil or Error, in the dark only each wallows. 
 
 The Truth to find out have we, and to it make return. 
 And we doing it, from Evil and Error Truth hallows : 
 And we all see the Truth's light then, so bright that we burn 
 Till the light and the fire of Truth we also dispend, 
 And so beautiful it is, that then to it all yearn ; 
 
 And execute might we of our coming here the end. 
 God did scatter men erst, because their evil did wax ; 
 Speech their's confusing, till no longer they comprehend 
 
119 
 
 Each other ; and so of Evil divide the attacks, 
 
 And a space open for the Good thus through it to show : 
 And so Indian here came ; but the log of need lacks. 
 
 They all were not evil, and in them nature did glow : 
 
 And their bread to earn having, some would get to be wise : 
 To the Evil example, dispersion struck a blow ; 
 
 And labor and trial purge, and evil paralyze. 
 
 Thus the natives we found here, were as good as we left. 
 Though without Christianity, nor knowing its Prize, 
 
 Yet they believing that the Shade through the Grave's dust cleft : 
 They had come to a stop, as already I have said. 
 And had, of need then, of their country to be bereft. 
 
 Thus mankind, about scattered, and over the world spread. 
 They several harvest yield, as the field by them tilled ; 
 And when the field but the stubble yield, then in their stead. 
 
 By other husbandmen coming, their places are filled ; 
 The tenure of the soil being in fine to the Brave ; 
 The faithful unto God, and to do Righteousness willed. 
 
 The commandment at the first, when our God to us gave 
 The Earth for our possession, was in Goodness to cleave ; 
 When we erred, then it was, us from the Evil to save : 
 
120 
 
 And the People have else, to die, serve, or then' land leave : 
 Judgments come may in a haste, or slowly they may waste, 
 Or one tenth, of the righteous, for the time may reprieve : 
 Or ten righteous in a town, stay the flames from their haste : 
 And our coming here, I deem then for righteous and just, 
 The degenerate to replace, and their good fruits taste : 
 Yet our possessions like them we but hold as a trust. 
 And to acquit it we have, or them cease to enjoy. 
 Young are we as yet ; evil and error do not rust 
 Upon us, shake them we may off, may a life deploy 
 
 The conditions complying with, that we keep the land ; 
 Practicable ; though may some, other language employ ; 
 And to believe and do, lead, is my work now in hand ; 
 And wholly you fit, your Roll and destiny to fill. 
 " Gro ye therefore and teach all nations" was the command 
 Of the Saviour, who to Earth came to teach us God's will ; 
 And to the towns and villages had disciples sent : 
 And to all Grenerations same commandment comes still, 
 A duty transmitted by perpetual descent ; 
 
 And to it superadded, our fathers hither came. 
 In much love I remind of it, to win your consent 
 
121 
 
 Your mission to fill ; and to your hearts to it inflame. 
 
 Oh ! feel no pity do ye, no sorrow for Love start 
 
 In your bosoms, for the man degenerate ; no shame 
 When all the Past over, your burning glances ye dart, 
 
 And see violate Truth ; and of its yearning Love foiled ; 
 
 A dearth of its outgoings, a desert the man's heart 
 Where raven wild beasts, and the gorged serpent and snake coiled ; 
 
 The beautiful Earth desecrated ; it, mournful lines 
 
 Streaking ; nature weeping neglected, denied, despoiled ; 
 The Man with shrunken aspect, and a form that declines ; 
 
 A step that soon falters, no confidence in his breast ; 
 
 Doubting all, and Truth to the equivocal assigns, 
 Of Wisdom staple, but for him name or crotch to rest 
 
 His stock or arm upon, and let go wavering shots 
 
 At Truth, from its sanction in human breasts feather wrest 
 To dangle on his Front for covering evil spots ; 
 
 To evil ministering, and claims for God he acts ; 
 
 Supine in his ignorance, and building on old Blots 
 Corruption had smeared Truth with, to levy th' utmost tax. 
 
CANTO IV. 
 
 If abominations of Corruption we so paint 
 
 In plain language of common sense, that tells Truth so well, 
 It is, to impulse to oust it give, and bring the saint ; 
 
 The devil's snare is, who dwells in, and would take to Hell ; 
 And cause, that a Pilgrimage through the world is to take : 
 Making of us merchandize for it to buy and sell. 
 
 But your arms of the Truth, serpent foil they will, or snake ; 
 And its armor, of Evil bane and guile wards attacks : [make. 
 Bright keeping its shield, your World's Pilgrimage safe ye 
 
 I have told how Corruption dressed Truth in dainty smacks ; 
 And its profits, helped, with two stages and half way house, 
 A Purgatory perverted, where men fill their lacks : 
 
 All charlatanry, tell the man would that he could souse 
 On Heaven and make it his prey, when he have perforce 
 To go, practised has been, rich viand and flowing rouse 
 
 To stock the Priest with, and have at last to him recourse. 
 And still stay the abuses, and by us must be cured, 
 And the lone Continent for it the only resource ; 
 
123 
 
 And to guard it right well have we, that so long secured 
 From encroaxjhment profane of, or the man, or the Priest : 
 Here Truth, is to find out, and have its kingdom assured ; 
 
 Nor at the stage between, have we to pause in the least. 
 
 That such a place there may be, there is scarce room to doubt, 
 But there our sorrow would only be greatly increased ; 
 
 And may be for them only, whose evil, put to rout 
 The Deluge, a Heavenly visitation that swept 
 Over the Earth, and reft breath and life all round about ; 
 
 And some may have taken, who in the Truth had them kept. 
 This task is to do then ; we have to find Truth, and teach 
 It to the world ; robbed of it, and supine have since slept 
 
 Through a long night of darkness ; though many would else preach ; 
 Of ignorant sincere, and to earn their homely cheer ; 
 Or wily ambitious, would to high distinction reach ; 
 
 Or, following doctrine that for ancient they revere ; 
 Or labor to shuffle off, for our good was imposed ; 
 Or to idle, nor yet of starvation be in fear. 
 
 The Truth have we to find, and not deal in the supposed ; 
 In our own nature, our Faith is to have its strong rests. 
 And not on antiquity at all to be reposed. 
 
124 
 
 "We have the Scriptures ta search, and to look in our breasts ; 
 
 Find what we are ; and how we in the Unity go 
 
 To our family belongs, and our title attests 
 To the heavenly abodes, and saves us from Hell's wo : 
 
 Distraction and confusion, have we to melt to peace ; 
 
 And the impulse of Truth in us fast well then and grow ; 
 True Men, have to be, and by our labors Truth increase 
 
 In the Earth ; the high Eoll that I said we have to fill. 
 
 Oh ! ye men, how long will ye still live, and still decease. 
 And know not the Truth, nor feel its impulse in you thrill : 
 
 Awake ye, arouse you ; no more, do ye condescend 
 
 In the old refuse to dig, doth your impulses chill : 
 Content you no longer for poor swine's husks to contend ; 
 
 Bread for the children, seek ye ; and busily it feed ; 
 
 To your Roll undertaken diligently attend. 
 Crusade have we to make, will our entire avail need ; 
 
 To the whole world to tell Truth, and it to it convert : 
 
 And I tell you, in the world ye will find for it greed : 
 And ye, everywhere tell it, and persuade, and assert. 
 
 The nature will acknowledge, and ye to obey lead ; 
 
 And many will assist, in town, village or desert ; 
 
125 
 
 And more of it will ye find there than here ye might read. 
 Go then and fit you ; into Nature ye dive ; and find 
 Truth in the Scriptures, and itself in you will then plead 
 
 To go rescue your fellow, whatever left behind. 
 
 We have to find out the Truth, and translate it, and print 
 Little tracts with Engines to tell it to th' Heathen blind : 
 
 In true words to tell it, and Nature seize on its hint. 
 The favored we, in the world, let us nobly acquit 
 So high privilege and destiny ; nor labor stint 
 
 That the benightened mind come, by the Truth to be lit ; 
 And here among ourselves, to have it flourish and flower. 
 Its pure nourishment to yield, and its fragrance emit ; 
 
 And flourish and spread, till to mighty it wax in power. [late, 
 Needs but write some tracts, and the Scriptures and them trans- 
 To make Evil and Error, and all Heathenism cower. 
 
 Truth is mighty, and pregnant ; holds our Wisdom, and fate : 
 In any guise we will put it, will tell the whole tale, 
 The Nature ever greeds to achieve the high estate. 
 
 If ye speak to the nature, to reach it, will not fail, 
 And make impression ye will too, and long to remain ; 
 And in the heart working ; and will never in it stale ; 
 
126 
 
 But of virtues evoke from it a long flowing train. 
 
 Decking -gracefully our life, and mantling it with joy ; 
 The best of all goods is, to cheer, nourish or sustain ; 
 
 Begun to have it, have we not, without much alloy ; 
 Beautiful beyond measure ; and to find, will entrance. 
 Truth then, let us look for, and all energy employ : 
 
 We purge out all our guile, and despise the stale romance 
 Traditionary lore ; the Scriptures study, and glean ' 
 Of their words drift well, for they never set there by chance ; 
 
 Nor the lexicon tell what in their place each they mean. 
 Fain add would I, my friends, whatever you might exhort 
 To your Roll fill, and forthcoming enrich and foreseen. 
 
 The days of Prophecy are nearing, and growing short ; 
 Who will enter the field then, and reap of harvest crop ? 
 Your labor is voluntary, none can it extort ; 
 
 Your labor is long, and into the grave will you drop ; 
 But I promise your rest there be not weary nor long : 
 To repose from your labors, ye make a little stop, 
 
 And then to Heaven your flight take, where you will belong. 
 
CANTO V. 
 
 The tedious rugged details now with much rocking passed, 
 The regular course though, that in the Scriptures we find, 
 To build of the noble the foundation that will last : 
 
 Enter let us with heedful steps, and wind 
 Kound and on up even to Pisgah's top. 
 And gaze the vista round, before, behind. 
 
 With care proceed we, and timely we stop 
 To look below, where standing, and ascend 
 "Whither we would, and if there ought to drop 
 
 Might hinder to climb, not meetly attend 
 The ascent to gaze on Canaan's fair land, 
 And new Jerusalem, from the impure doth defend. 
 
 The glory of the Righteous, and keeping the command 
 That was in Eden delivered, we fain would depict ; 
 Though erring, yet striving with heart and hand ; 
 
 In doing imperfect, in purpose strict ; 
 In all theu' walk aiming to be upright. 
 Armed, whatever do,, against the conflict. 
 
128 
 
 They daily build in them an inner might, 
 
 A weakness feel, with care against it guard ; 
 
 Walk ay in the light, avoid ay the night ; 
 All that lovely and pure, love to regard, 
 
 And its image fondly cherish in heart. 
 
 The suffering to soothe, nought doth retard ; 
 And wise counsel and aid do they impart ; 
 
 Gracious in manners, and wise in discourse ; 
 
 Truth from their lips drops ; in their eyes tears start, 
 For of the good thought in world's intercourse : 
 
 Are tender in their feelings, and these chaste ; 
 
 All things they know with in themselves recourse ; 
 Judge do the World, that not by them disgraced : 
 
 But never punish, for they too regret. , 
 
 Never circumstance for them seems displaced, 
 A cause and consequence, they know abet. 
 
 Expands their mind to embrace all occurs 
 
 To sorrow them make, or happier yet : 
 For they are happy, as ay, who not errs ; 
 
 Or unintentionally, then he grieves ; 
 
 And repenting, the load from him transfers 
 
129 
 
 By grace of God for who works and believes. 
 
 To conduct the world to so high estate, 
 
 Without employment, pleasure, never leaves. 
 This work of love, fallen hath to our fate. 
 
 To wise and~ happy make men and content : 
 
 And high reward attends and doth await. ^ 
 
 In it, all is rewarding and improving are blent ; 
 
 And let all of us enter then, and with earnest zeal. 
 
 Upon the good work ; and accomplish the great event. 
 Time fast wearing out is, and the world begins to feel 
 
 There has been much of vanity in it heretofore ; 
 
 And are commonly thinking what to do to it heal ; 
 Willing to work are they, and to travel, and to pore ; 
 
 All tasks they will do, the better to be satisfied ; 
 
 And there is of hope more, than in any days of yore. 
 The common mind to learn now, is highly gratified : 
 
 Ambition, vanity, are employed less in bloodshed ; 
 
 That labor is honorable by none is denied : 
 The common mind is not now confined to the homestead, 
 
 The neighbor is considered however far away ; 
 
 And many a one, over the world to roam, is wed, 
 
 7# 
 
130 
 
 His neighborly visits to many brethren to pay : 
 
 Science is busy for all the practical results ; 
 
 And soar does from the study towards the milky way ; 
 And over a late deduction it just now exults ; 
 
 Though it may be prematurely ; but is very grand : 
 
 And in the study still thrills, not in the town's tumults : 
 Embraced in a thought, but over the Globe will expand ; 
 
 And of the Infinite Wisdom token, like the rest : 
 
 And shows it again to hold the Heavens in its hand. 
 Oh ! happy Columbia, if faithful in the breast. 
 
 Our work we have to do ; and let us early begin : 
 
 Let us for it prepare, and on it enter with zest ; 
 Let us purge out the Evil, and every little sin, 
 
 And Temptation that teazes, we banish to its den ; 
 
 No encouragement give it ; then of self will stay in. 
 Let us all study, and bring all things into our ken ; 
 
 Except the Good and Evil, for of it have enough ; 
 
 Of Good alone let us have, and we be happy men. 
 And let us be all shod, to go over the world rough. 
 
 With Righteousness, and against the pricks then we not kick ; 
 
 Our benevolence win or conquer, even the gruff. 
 
131 
 
 Let our enterprise never at any hardship stick ; 
 
 And the Truth follow it fast with Love upon its wings ; 
 The Evil inoculate with its own thorny prick, 
 
 And ever after protect from its contagious stings. 
 I say, the nature is everywhere to shed its dews, 
 And with the Morn's light of Truth returning, the Sun flings 
 
 On her bosom his rays, and the nature not refuse 
 Will the kindly glow, and will take the good seed we sow, 
 And nourish it ; and Wisdom will grow, the fruit to use ; 
 
 To take of it justly, and not in th' evil wallow ; 
 
 That is the Truth ; and Love then from its erst prison drear, 
 Will enchant in its palace, we did it so hallow : 
 
 The bosom will agitate, and relieve through the tear ; 
 
 A new life dawn then, and complacent Heaven look down 
 Benignantly upon this our Western Hemisphere, 
 
 Do we seek ever then of glory a higher crown, 
 A Destiny more immortal, than so to fulfil 
 The Roll of the Providence : or another renown 
 
 Than to win the Children of God all to do his Will I 
 
CANTO VI. 
 
 A matter there is for us painful, and not yet touched ; 
 
 We have said. Heaven did its minister find in Spain, 
 
 Having monarch who everywhere at dominion clutched ; 
 Nor, for helping any promise of it would complain ; 
 
 And, fanatic in superstition, careful to send 
 
 Ministers its dominion build, to eke out its Reign. 
 It landed in the South, and there to it they still bend. 
 
 And all its miserable fruits there still they enjoy. 
 
 They, will not help then ; and to them have we to attend ; 
 And the means for it, have we to devise and employ, 
 
 And with difficulty found, or the doctor contrives. 
 
 The guile of Superstition makes it tremblingly coy, 
 And slow is to adopt any remedy arrives, [trough in, 
 
 And, worse than eating swine's flesh, leads to swill the paws 
 
 And degeneracy, to death in wallowing thrives 
 As do rottenness and death in the close buried coffin. 
 
 Superstition ay trembles for its stronghold of terror ; 
 
 Haggard its aspect, for holding consumption and cough in 
 
133 ' 
 
 It, by its habit and doctrine of evil and error : 
 It trembles for even the aspect of Truth beheld. 
 Fearing, of its dominion Truth to self be transferrer ; 
 
 Nor ever will forgive who against it have rebelled : 
 Stronghold for its feebleness, its cunnmg ever builds 
 In corruption and ignorance, the people to weld 
 
 To it tickled and led by any bauble it gilds : 
 
 None reverence it but in fear, or awe for old spires 
 
 So neglected and crumbling : it employs Monkish Guilds 
 
 To affirm its dominion for by them levied hires ; 
 
 And its ranks to keep full, to coax and drum fresh recruits ; 
 And builds in due places and times, for heretics fii-es. 
 
 The soil it induces, is barren for the good fruits ; 
 The soil of Nature, so covers with its sand and flint 
 That, water is shed on it spends and wastes in the flutes ! 
 
 A monster of cunning, and never efibrt will stint 
 
 In the High Places to creep ; nor stops short of the Throne 
 Of nought is to be baffled may be compassed by dint 
 
 Of hard work, or cunning, or crime ; nor ever it known 
 Its claim to relinquish though it ousted from the hold ; 
 "Would over the whole world reign, and reign in it alone. 
 
134 
 
 This enemy to conquer is, that cunning and old, 
 And conquered to stay ; and to effect it have the Brave ; 
 The same Brave that my theme are, as already have told ; 
 
 And Truth to be conquered with ; that alone will them save. 
 In our Nature Truth is, and all to do is, destroy 
 The coin and stamp counterfeit, and nature will it crave. 
 
 We have the crust through to break, or skin, of the alloy 
 So the heart and mind soldering is, and that excludes 
 Your genial approaches, and imprisons the heart's joy ; 
 
 And Truth gently distil then in genial interludes ; 
 Very tenderly ministering to them so sick ; 
 Showing the heavenly and earthly beatitudes ; 
 
 And so raise them, the dead now, to become of the quick. 
 To triumph with them sure are we, if we persevere, 
 And the leavened crust sunder, however it be thick. 
 
 Full of glory the work will be, the labor severe. 
 But help of Heaven we have, whose ministers we are, 
 And glory reap in the Earth ; and more in Heaven's sphere. 
 
 Never to admit have we, to our victory bar ; 
 
 Our armor and arms of the Truth be, bravely we fight, 
 More bravely for Heaven, than to add another star. 
 
135 
 
 And simple be your Prayer there, and music and rite, 
 Oh, ye brethren of the Brave, for the poor debased thrall 
 Of Superstition, and nature will ope to you spright : 
 
 The like of them only, ever rend that numbing Pall. 
 Columbia, Columbia, thy destiny tell 
 Who, if faithful thy sons to on the Brave Heaven's call. 
 
 And what, Bravery ? in world of evil to acquit well. 
 Long wended have the ages, but little hath Good age 
 In world below ; the infant that has scarce learned to spell. 
 
 Thickly strown is the world with innumerable page. 
 But wilderness to travail in scant of wisdom's bread. 
 Oh ! ye Brave, ye Brave, the conquering battle, ye wage. 
 
 Who life in them have, make their bold inroads on the dead 
 Till teem Earth with Righteousness, and all the little hills 
 Skip with joy, and echo over the mountains be sped. 
 
 Oh ! ye my friends. Time fast now is waning, Heaven wills 
 Its laws be put into men's minds, and be in their hearts 
 Written too ; and whoever the covenant fulfils 
 
 On its behoof, a pure joyous effluence imparts 
 In its bosom ; and many it will cover of sins 
 We fall into all, in whom so wonderfully starts 
 
136 
 
 The Being of the Nature of God, and here begins 
 
 To be in the flesh ; yea, begins, but never it ends ; 
 
 Though encounter it death, the triumph over it wins ; 
 And then having well striven, it into Heaven wends : 
 
 And high laurels will them grace there, that ever have won 
 
 A soul to the happiness that there for him attends. 
 We are all of one family, and there all in one ; 
 
 And on Earth might we be also, and so to be ought ; 
 
 But very thoughtless are, and to be have not begun ; 
 We heed not that with price we have been all of us bought 
 
 Of a sore grievous travail, and sufferings extreme ; 
 
 Nor the lessons learn we, wisdom from Heaven came taught. 
 Our life here we live, and it seems at end but a dream : 
 
 Because we have not thought ; but then and there we awake 
 
 Unto all the dread realities in that extreme. 
 And at ourselves astonish, and exceedingly quake 
 
 At the thought of the coming after. Let us arise 
 
 Then from the ignoble stupor, regenerate shake ; 
 Nobly our Part enact, become of the Brave and Wise. 
 
CANTO VII. 
 
 I say 5 to become have we wise, out of dire confusion ; 
 To be brave and be quick, out of a torpor of death : 
 Arise from the Error, that is of Evil delusion. 
 
 To have of the Kegenerate, the strong and hale breath ; 
 To diligently search for the Light of all the blind, 
 And accurate rendering of all the Scripture saith : 
 
 And, of the wise to be and brave, our Salvation find : 
 Nor any Salvation but for the wise and the brave : 
 Nor else your high KoU ye fill, to save the lost mankind. 
 
 Our Salvation, my friends, is from our sins to us save ; 
 Barring us from Heaven, till they all out of the way. 
 And ye seeking for happiness, for this do ye crave ; 
 
 And straightway accomplish it ; and then out of them stay. 
 The Truth was commanded us at first in Paradise, 
 And now, to come and stay out of sin. Truth we obey ; 
 
 And World to lead to it, task of the Brave is precise. 
 In truth for us to live, is our Being's native life ; 
 Nor in other endure can, or keep us clean and nice : 
 
138 
 
 There is so much in Heaven tempts, needs there even strife 
 To choose amongst all, and taste little of suiting best. 
 At the moment we want, and for pure craving most rife ; 
 
 It natural too, and springing out of the pure breast. 
 Whence desires flowing delicate, and that not to sate : 
 And Truth told to us, that we in taking, timely rest. 
 
 But the warning neglected, came the falling estate. 
 From which all have to rise to take little, and select ; 
 .Fruits and flowers abound, and we must be temperate, 
 
 That to attain and endure in, makes of the elect. 
 
 To this we the World to conduct have ; that then be wise ; 
 And brave be will likewise ; that ay keeping them erect. 
 
 The worship of God purge ye, till it waft to the skies, 
 Oh ! Brave and wise : a worship spiritual and strong, 
 And earnest, and by you to be, or who for it tries. 
 
 Nor stops ever trying, till to you truly belong : 
 
 And kindly ye help him, and every day in the week. 
 
 With word of mouth to him, more than sermon to the throng. 
 
 Your battle not with words wage, however smooth or sleek ; 
 Plain work is to be wrought by you, to Truth men to bring ; 
 And in life bring to show it, not alone when they speak ; 
 
139 
 
 Their Truth to judge of, by of pure love the ofiering. 
 
 So simple directions, I much pray you to accept 
 
 From one of youi- fellows, or to be so proffering, 
 And careful to study each simple divine precept. 
 
 No wisdom in Articles or in Creeds by him found, 
 
 Nor commonly any more in what sermon y'cleped, 
 Nor more in writings so common and many abound : 
 
 To them let not trust the Brave and wise in their crusade. 
 
 To go amongst the foolish have ye, and round and round ; 
 And your Master's whole example, your practice be made. 
 
 Ye will oft have to suffer, but ye, count it for joy, 
 
 And great returns have will ye, and enrich you your trade. 
 Make it your business, diligently you employ 
 
 Your high task to acquit, and enter on th' high reward ; 
 
 Nor, Truth and love in you, will you find them to alloy. 
 Your enemies many, ye will not find in accord ; 
 
 And out of their ranks, there will come a host to your aid : 
 
 Bewildered that are now, but love the Master and Lord, 
 And serve him in spirit ; but see the light under shade, 
 
 A shade men have cast over it by their evil deeds ; 
 
 And many will join you, when your Banner is displayed. 
 
140 
 
 Than example is there nought more powerfully leads. 
 And your victory on its companionship depends 
 While sowing in the world of your own harvested seeds. 
 
 Your labor will be long, not to say it never ends : 
 
 Yet your task will be wrought, though the work stay incomplete, 
 And doing your duty, ye fail not of your amends. 
 
 A Power ye have not, but liberty to entreat 
 
 And the world to accept persuade, of Heaven's choice boons ; 
 And overcome, if ye may, each obstacle ye meet. 
 
 Ye have to show men their pictures, and Heaven's cartoons. 
 Its models antique too, and designs in the fine arts. 
 That they see for themselves they are no better than loons : 
 
 And as ye kindly compare, will sorrow in their hearts 
 Till the springs in their nature even burst put in tears : 
 They will weep, and will love, and mourn, till the resolve starts 
 
 The old drawings to copy, with trembling hopes and fears. 
 A wonder will wake in them, they had not thought before. 
 And looked into Nature for its art in so high spheres : 
 
 To your eloquence will melt, and their hearts will outpour 
 Till to the Truth they surrender so deeply commoves : 
 Men have come a long way, friends, and all is to go o'er. 
 
141 
 
 In the behest on you laid, and acquit as behooves. 
 
 Long have we erred, and from the just welfare strayed is ours, 
 And your task is to lead to all the welfare improves, 
 
 To the way and destiny to Truth and Heaven towers : 
 And ye have but to show it, and all of it convince 
 In the nature it all holds ; and of all it empowers ; 
 
 And the Powers you controvert before you will wince ; 
 Cannot withstand the power in nature you command, 
 Of Truth Power, at first welled in, and wells ever since. 
 
 Your Roll to fill, then, needs it I commend or demand. 
 
 Oh ! Brave and wise ; your nature, doth it not in you plead 
 To fit you, and to haste you, to lend the helping hand. 
 
 And minister to your fellow, succor him in need ! 
 
 Oh ! feel ye in your hearts, and speed you to Heaven's aid ; 
 Constrain you your sympathy, and to rescue fast speed ! 
 
 Time is waning away fast ; and ye too be afraid ! 
 
 Oh ! ye, prove not recreant to Love's pleading behest 
 For its children in darkness, and growing the night shade 
 
 Of evil in their hearts ; haste, make them too of the Blest. 
 
CANTO VIII. 
 
 A destiny is there for you. Oh ! ye Brave and wise, 
 At end of your Pilgrimage, will compensate you well 
 For all your labors of love, when from the grave ye rise. 
 
 That our language, of now is, not avail it to tell 
 
 Ye know very well ; we have not learned it to conceive ; 
 Nor the names even of Righteousness know we to spell. 
 
 The rudiments of Truth, not taught are we to receive, 
 And full all our communications of marks and blots ; 
 Over our delinquencies, not learned have we, to grieve ; 
 
 But that Destiny, be ye sure, the Master allots. 
 The crowning superstructure on the Pillar ye raise ; 
 And over it your exploits told in little star spots : 
 
 And ye then will praise, and anthems of Heaven you praise. 
 Of good cheer then ye be, whatever you may betide, 
 Nor count your life here dear, that out of Heaven here stays. 
 
 The Roll, Oh ! ye friends, ye to fill have, in the world wide. 
 Is immortal ; and straight towards the mark for the prize 
 Of the high calling in Christ Jesus, who crucified 
 
143 
 
 By wicked men he came to make of the Brave and Wise, 
 
 And each follower after him of the wise and brave, 
 
 A martyrdom, like him, by the recreant defies ; 
 Over bodies of his fellows, march oft to the grave 
 
 Will. The way of Truth easy and blest is, and is plain ; 
 
 And all its art, to stint justly whenever we crave, 
 And the art to endure, is in the same to maintain : 
 
 And ever having wandered, to go straight to it back ; 
 
 The desires had been yielded to, to curb and restrain. 
 Then degenerate come regenerate from old hack. 
 
 The green pliable youth, if ye will take much in hand. 
 
 Will rewardingly you bless ; and old, aid in same track. 
 To exemplify all your virtues in every land 
 
 Ye enter, towards you will propitiate, and lead ; 
 
 And well know will they, and love then, each divine command. 
 Then too. Persecution will have to take the more heed 
 
 In you wounding, lest it itself kick against the pricks ; 
 
 And its own vital parts wound, to dangerously bleed : 
 Odious its Power, and its flaming fires of sticks 
 
 Will inflame too in the mind, and their smoky clouds breed 
 
 In the bosom will tempests, till there come such a fix 
 
144 
 
 To the fires they be led even, did erst to them lead. 
 
 A Power have ye in nature, as I before told. 
 
 Will come always to your help, if ye wisely proceed ; 
 And ye steadfast in the Truth, and discreet ye, and bold : 
 
 Always listen will the Nature to your simple tale. 
 
 And gradually will take in it its fast hold. 
 Till before it the Superstition cower and pale. 
 
 The Superstitious, the degenerate are, and weak ; 
 
 And blenches its leaven before the Wise Brave and hale. 
 Your conquering Path will be, as of the lightning streak 
 
 Through flying clouds of the degeneracy on gale 
 
 Ye breed till in the dust whelmed, of Superstition Peak, 
 And the People rend Heaven with triumphant all Hail. 
 
 Nature neither will resist you, nor is to resist; 
 
 And to ply it have ye every where, and not to fail ; 
 It feels the want of you always, and craves to assist ; 
 
 But ever your Bravery, your Wisdom hath to guide ; 
 
 To choose when to act have ye, and choose when to desist ; 
 Your bravery take counsel, and your wisdom decide : 
 
 The volume of Wisdom go ever with you along 
 
 And when ye deliberate, then its wisdom preside. 
 
145 
 
 Ye have to practice your virtues ; and show what is wrong 
 
 In the example that distinguishes every'Nation ; 
 
 And in cities and towns, to cure of vices a throng 
 Ye will find in Society, up to highest station : 
 
 Error and confusion too, will stare you in the face, 
 
 When ye enter where dwelling the heralds of Salvation ; 
 In opposition arrayed, in town or country place : 
 
 But never from your Path, do ye for them turn aside : 
 
 Convert them like all others to Salvation by Grace : 
 That is to make them like yourselves without their vain pri . 
 
 Oft, ye have will to feel, ye Brave and ye wise, the sham 
 
 Mantle for your fellows, they from the Truth are so wide. 
 Yet will take on their lips of the Master and Lord name ; 
 
 Truth assuming to teach, yet scarce know its A B C ; 
 
 And so swelling with vanity, know not to self blame : 
 Would enlighten the world, over the land and the sea, 
 
 Yet leave not their places till the ringing of the bell ; 
 
 To show to the world then, they in ignorance agree. 
 They know not the Truth, nor can they even its names tell ; 
 
 But much error do they hold, and for Truth it esteem ; 
 
 On their words and confusion, do they love mucTi to dwell, 
 8 ' 
 
146 
 
 And all of their confusion, for the Truth do they deem ; 
 Then justly do not on it for salvation depend, 
 But build for it what appear to them suitable scheme : 
 
 And on the whole to the Truth very little attend. 
 
 So sad a plight of the Truth in Christian even lands 
 
 Will require your attention, all doings to amend, 
 And if possible bring them to obey Truth's commands. 
 
 The case may at first seem to you, one is to despair ; 
 
 But not yet the worst is it, ye will have on your hands. 
 The whole Truth would I tell you about this your warfare ; 
 
 And show it is worthy, and there is field for exploits ; 
 
 And valor in request be, the whole of your wayfare : 
 Nor ignoble your Prize be, as pitching it were quoits 
 
 To harden the muscle, or precious time pass away * 
 
 As catering for interest with staking the doits. 
 Oh ye friends, of the Brave and the wise, there is a day 
 
 Coming, when life and its realities rise to view, 
 
 Startling the degenerate ; yea, whelming with dismay. 
 Oh ! strive ye then with them, till Love with Triumph crown you ! 
 
CANTO IX. 
 
 Still sought have I, my friends, with you to soar and traverse, 
 
 In the Infinite expatiate, and laurels pluck 
 
 You might grace ; and your triumphs to chant, have lofty verse : 
 But kept am I, dragging in the degenerate truck : 
 
 And I pray you. Brave and "Wise, ever wa3^are with care. 
 
 As your path by you trod, not to slump in th' evil muck : 
 Ye, the hope of the World are, and have well to beware ; 
 
 Of the world the light are, and of the Righteous the seed ; 
 
 And have their eyes will they on you, and wondering stare : 
 But ye, keep on your way, upon your high Master's lead ; 
 
 In his steps follow ye ; and his triumph, follow yours. 
 
 Plain the work to be done is ; to pull up every weed 
 Of Error that growing ; and snare of Evil that lures 
 
 Rend into such shreds, that art of Corruption not mend ; 
 
 And to show Truth in common speech then, that either cures ; 
 In words that tell of nature, or man's use not to end. 
 
 For each case of both them. Truth to tell have ye and paint ; 
 
 in each how avoid evilj and in Truth ever wend. 
 
148 
 Example to aid, find ye will in the Scripture's saint : 
 
 And by who accurately Truth way and life did show, 
 
 And was them all in himself^ nor the example faint. 
 But details by word of mouth, do they all need to know : 
 
 The Truth more in particulars is now to apply ; 
 
 The Evil one counteracting since, has not been slow ; 
 Or indulgences, contrived men have to multiply ; 
 
 And forms and ablutions too, to them extenuate ; 
 
 A little evil, think to foolish not stultify. 
 But evil is to bruise, and to Truth men animate : 
 
 Never compromise Heaven makes, and only yields Grace 
 
 To the striving and purging, and hold Evil in hate. 
 This doctrine have ye to show, to all in every place. 
 
 Though it keep you in a warfare throughout all your course ; 
 
 But showing ye the example, gives it a good face, 
 And much helps you to enforce it in your plain discourse,. 
 
 In same words I have told of, and that all understand ; 
 
 And your own illustrations will more freshen its force 
 Against special transgressions of each Heaven's command. 
 
 Such simple counsel I give you, I pray keep in mind, 
 
 And suitably apply, as the case ye have in hand. 
 
149 
 
 In your pilgrimage sins find will ye of every kind, 
 
 And the way to go out of them, for each one make plain : 
 And with many exhortations. Truth into men wind 
 
 For their conversation ; to in, ye leaving, remain. 
 Arduous, ye Brave, your labors ; but reward ye reap, 
 " My reward is with me" saith Christ, and ye it attain. 
 
 Kejoice in tribulation ; comfort take when ye weep ; 
 Immortal destiny awaits you, glory procure 
 Ye when, your travail all over, in kind death ye sleep. 
 
 The Portal, is Death, to that forever will endure ; 
 
 And they, brave have to be, who to that Portal advance ; 
 And the Brave be wise also, to the entrance assure. 
 
 Too often we live here, and pass away, in a trance ; 
 With reflection appoint not all the objects do wend 
 Here before us ; cursorily at their surface, glance. 
 
 And showing fairly to the eye, our efforts then bend 
 
 To fast make them our own, to reap their poor passing joy ; 
 And foolish do we find us then, and balked, at the end. 
 
 Each day of our experience, shows that did annoy. 
 
 And conscious we are too, because we did not well look ; 
 To be wiser, the resolve we perhaps then deploy, - 
 
150 
 
 But another day shows we of the vain again took : 
 And in the manner precisely we before did take ; 
 We took vainly of the new, the old vainly forsook. 
 
 We have all of us to learn before we do partake ; 
 And to stay content as we are, until we do learn : 
 But of the Brave then we are, to the taking forsake 
 
 Until what the Good be, we applying us discern. 
 With diligence we then afterward take care to scan 
 What the world offering, with attention and concern, 
 
 Before we take any course, or we set any plan : 
 
 And we have started at length then in Wisdom's own way : 
 Then steadfastly following on, as thus we began, 
 
 Contented will we find us whatever we do may : 
 
 And hope kindles then, and springs confidence in our breast ; 
 And a wisdom in our life we begin to display : 
 
 Though not with much strength ; but we have planted a true zest : 
 And exalted our hopes are, and purposes and views : 
 Then persevering therein, soon accomplish the rest : 
 
 And to our Bravery add, the foolish we refuse : 
 
 Thereafter it comes quickly, of the Grood we make choice : 
 And Wisdom there inures then, the Good only to use ; 
 
151 
 
 And of the Brave and the wise to be, we may rejoice : 
 Soon thereafter, pass the Brave and "Wise on to the True : 
 The others embracing in a single word or voice. 
 
 Oh ! my friends, I do welcome you to be of us few ; 
 And pray you to be steadfast, and to glory ye rise : 
 Day by day in your wisdom ye still more you imbue, 
 
 And will glory then to feel you of the Brave and Wise. 
 To strive after honor, or wealth, or glory or Fame, 
 Would not add to the stock for your contentment supplies ; 
 
 Each contains in it fuel, burns the more to inflame 
 A vanity of Worldliness in Earth here below. 
 Better to achieve it is, to have written your name 
 
 In the Book that in Heaven kept, your title to show 
 
 In the Unity to go. Truth makes ; and Love transports : 
 One family all, and all your brethren you all know. 
 
 Who doubts of Heaven ever, he that worldliness courts ; 
 False to his nature, and the ministered to us Lights, 
 And the Infinite beauty the cloud even reports ; 
 
 And all Earth and Heaven hold for the Children's delights. 
 
CANTO X. 
 
 The world have gone away backward from the Truth, the Will 
 Of Grod for them ; and to the Truth have they to return ; 
 Nor can there for Salvation be any other skill. 
 
 To keep us in the Truth, is Salvation ; and to learn 
 The art, we all have ; before in Heaven we can dwell : 
 And it doth for my Country exceedingly concern : 
 
 Y oung and buoyant now, and stretching, and with pride doth swell ; 
 And much vanity fondles in her heart and her mind. 
 Her Son I exult to be ; and oh ! I wish her well ; 
 
 And her high incumbent KoU, to never fall behind ; 
 But wisdom alone gird will to it ever fulfil : 
 Wisdom that of Truth is, nor other is there to find. 
 
 To learn wisdom have her People, and stay in it still. 
 With dangers is she encompassed, without and within : 
 Events multiply in the world now, and blood will spill : 
 
 War will Truth's enemies, now making their noise and din ; 
 Claiming to be its friends, but what it is, do not know ; 
 Each Phalanx but wishing the ranks of others to thin : 
 
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 And such deem they, or will call, to serve G-od here below. 
 
 In the midst of us they are sporting now in God's name, 
 
 And in low wit and ribaldry service of him show. 
 Their sectarian strife, is to mutually shame ; 
 
 Cowards in the Truth are they, and their weapons employ : 
 
 Fast covering is disgrace our for Truth erst small Fame ; 
 And our shield and our arms of Truth show much of alloy. 
 
 None know what the Truth is, and they all claim to it teach ; 
 
 But not a word from them hear we, that tells of its joy ; 
 A joy waits to be kindled in the bosom of each : 
 
 Evil that unrebuked is, fast growing in the heart ; 
 
 While they for the staying in it, a salvation preach. 
 Never for us hope, if Truth's Teachers not Truth impart. 
 
 And the case to give up is. in an utter despair : 
 
 I pray then all aid us, and every man do his part. 
 I have studied the case with a deliberate care ; 
 
 To the beginning have gone, and traced down until now; 
 
 And of the way all comes about, am quite well aware ; 
 And that the coming seen too, and by what means and how : 
 
 The old usage of men ; and same again would repeat ; 
 
 And only hoped was. Truth for rescue in fine endow : 
 8* 
 
154 
 
 But the time for it has come ; and we have it to greet : 
 Oh ! then consider well, and to the rescue fast speed : 
 Deem ye, that Truth with confusion, in one never meet. 
 
 Our Destiny, oh ! is worthy we give it some heed ; 
 
 Our days here are few, we very soon have to go hence : 
 That Destiny then wake in us, to fill it a greed. 
 
 Let us put in our thought of it, a plain common sense ; 
 And our thought into action, we then swiftly convert, 
 And no more for Evil build Salvation or defence. 
 
 Our own Powers, have we busily ay to exert. 
 
 And on the use made of them, for Salvation depend : 
 No more, let us Heaven's aid, to Evil's aid pervert, 
 
 But all our ways busily from the Evil amend : 
 
 And this done, then Evil to shun, be our careful task : 
 Then happy for us be, when our life here come to end. 
 
 Could ever we more gracious or more Righteous terms ask } 
 Oh ! let us, each one of us, now busily apply ; 
 Beneath Meridian Sun's light, not supinely bask ; 
 
 And else come to soon set will it, in this Western sky. 
 The pregnant issues, with our theme do so interweave, 
 Critical for us, bearings have, when we come to die ; 
 
155 
 
 And from the children of men careful thought should receive. 
 Truth, Innocence, Puiity, they are and win the prize 
 That for us men awaiting, when of Earth taking leave ; 
 
 But else to us the entrance a flaming Sword defies : 
 And no wayis left then but to take the other fate. 
 Let every one consider, comes the day when he dies ; 
 
 And have of Righteousness robe, to be enthroned in State. 
 Kings and Priests unto God, we may there all of us reign, 
 And with pleasures untiring our hours exhilirate. 
 
 The Soul hath in itself, the resources will remain 
 Fresh and craving for ever, and yielding a pure joy : 
 And a complacency such, it in rest not complain ; 
 
 The treasures of wisdom there, will the pure mind employ, 
 So pregnant and copious they can never expend : 
 And opens to us the bosom of love, here so coy. 
 
 Oh ! my friends, let us be vigilant ; and well attend 
 To all the things that do concern our eternal peace : 
 And in all Righteousness keep us, as on Earth we wend. 
 
 Let us disdain to consult every idle caprice ; 
 
 But capricious we be, to take of Good, measure just : 
 And emulate th' example of the wise man of Greece, 
 
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 Who went about doing Good, though like us men of dust. 
 
 The Prize of the high calling to attain, strive, through Grace, 
 
 And following who from Heaven came, to attain, trust. 
 Oh ! my friends in this work, I would fain you all embrace : 
 
 In my bosom I hold you for most precious and dear ; 
 
 Light of the World, are ye ; and, lighten it each dark place. 
 Oh ! haste ye, ye Brave and wise ; your light, let it appear ; 
 
 The Sun, stayed by Joshua, let go back from the West ; 
 
 As triumphing ye here, ye start on your World's career. 
 Haste ye, friends, to rout th' evil from out the Human Breast, 
 
 To strew the world, with kind influences of the hope 
 
 That pierces into Heaven, and on Earth so makes blest. 
 With your dangers and difficulties manfully cope ; 
 
 They win for you a Prize not now and here to compute ; 
 
 A happiness, pure, endless, and infinite in scope. 
 Your triumph, will celebrate harp harpsichord and lute ; 
 
 Your places ye take there, on the thrones to you assigned ; 
 
 Kings and Priests ye will be, and from the tree of life fruit 
 Take, and your own harps strike in the Paradise reclined. 
 
THE BLIND. 
 
THE BLIND. 
 CANTO I. 
 
 Oh ! ye Blind ones, ye blind ones, much my heart aches for you ; 
 
 But not so badly as erst had, had I thought as now ; 
 
 There are in the World of the benevolent a few, 
 And perhaps more than ever through the evil crust plough, 
 
 Like them that thought have for the blind ; have thought for 
 the blind : 
 
 Yet my tears, blind me not, to not the blind soothe allow. 
 Ye blind, ye are here to in our hearts sympathy wind : 
 
 Oh ! ye good, to think of them, to your nature so true ; 
 
 And a cure for the lone heart and blind eye kindly find. 
 Oh ! ye blind, ye commissioned are, with light to imbue 
 
 The blind that have sight, in their nature give them insight ; 
 
 Heaven's agents, lofty Roll that appointed to few. 
 And happy too are ye, ye have advantage not slight. 
 
 For not seeing ye the evil doth all overcloud, 
 
 Darkening our sight, obscuring for us Heaven's light : 
 
160 
 
 Ye, few are, but of the morally blinded a crowd, 
 
 And the ways block they up, till to push have we and fight. 
 On our own way to hold us, till safe wrapped in grave shroud ; 
 
 And far hence swiftly wending we, the disenthralled Sprite. 
 In many ways happy are ye ; for you there is spent 
 Sympathy, had else not escaped from bosom so tight 
 
 In the most of us, though blushing to tell I consent. 
 
 In respect for the Truth, and to myself not Truth wound ; 
 And Truth to spread, where I grieve for it so marred and shent 
 
 That it scarcely on the round of the Earth now be found. 
 The Truth, know ye what this be then ? it is very fine 
 I assure you, and virtues in it many abound ; 
 
 It is one of its virtues, makes the light for you shine. 
 And a high one, and full one, comprehensive and kind ; 
 It brought even down to us the Majesty divine 
 
 From Heaven, its light to shed on the morally blind ; 
 And it was of its kindling on the nature in Man, 
 In his bosom led the cure for you to search and find : 
 
 This virtue of Truth is benevolence ; nor it wan 
 In who pitied the sightless, and then for them made eyes 
 In the tips of their fingers, and thence swiftly light ran 
 
161 
 
 Through the brain and the heart, to endow them of the wise. 
 
 Thus, Truth made you to see, as ye come too to see must 
 
 The Truth, and this best of lights, the blind also descries 
 In same way as who need not to the fingers to trust : 
 
 And ye see it ; and Truth's virtue feel of gratitude. 
 
 Our eyes, ye have to know now, were made out of the dust ; 
 Truth not in the eyes, nor need they for its habitude : 
 
 Duty, in life is, and in the Asylum to show 
 
 As amongst them that see, and yields there same beatitude ; 
 And in Heaven where it takes, ye both see will and know 
 
 Like all others on the Earth, who the Truth have obeyed ; 
 
 And Truth making you to see, I trust also will glow 
 With gratefulness in your bosom, that is Truth portrayed, 
 
 Towards Heaven and who done have and shown it for you. 
 
 Do ye know then what is Heaven, and to it have prayed ? 
 Do ye seek of it blessing, and guidance in the true 
 
 And living way ? Its laws are for the mind and the heart ; 
 
 Obeyed they are in these, and the outgoings imbue : 
 Love needs not sight, for its ofiering it not the art ; 
 
 The night or noon do they spring, and purer in the dark. 
 
 We put out of sight all, when for Heaven we depart 
 
162 
 
 On the wings of Prayer, and through the air, to the ark 
 
 Of safety, our Grod and Father, sitting on his throne 
 
 Of Grace, and nigh the mercy seat ; and doth there remark 
 Each sighing heart, and suppliant thought, and spirit's moan 
 
 For the ,evil past, and to from it be disenthralled. 
 
 If ye ever in your blindness then feel you alone. 
 Thus do ye comfort you ; and happy deem you not palled 
 
 With the World, distracting so heavenly exercise. 
 
 The World, ye may deem, and ye may have heard it too called, 
 A truly fine place and thing, and is not to despise. 
 
 With much that pleasant to look at, and many fine shows ; 
 
 But I assure you, there is much yet, would you surprise, 
 And whoever in Truth taught, and with love of it glows. 
 
 Your friends that so helped have you, they are just of the best. 
 
 And the Truth so much loved they, Love waked in them its 
 throes 
 That speeded them to help you, till ye see like the rest 
 
 Heaven's light of the Truth, and perchance better obey ; 
 
 And then there pure love come, and make abode in your breast. 
 The World, to you praise I not ; but the Earth, it doth sway. 
 
 Beautiful and lovely is, though it chequered with scenes 
 
 To see would surprise you, nor will I now them portray. 
 
163 
 
 The World are not thankful for the flowers and the greens 
 
 So beautiful and cheering, that are spread on its plains. 
 
 And hills, and mountain sides ; and for the bountiful means 
 Of subsistence and enjoyment ; and the dews and rains 
 
 Do the Earth- always refresh, and make fertile the soil, 
 
 And bring seedtime and harvest of the nourishing grains, 
 And the sweet-scented flowers, and the clover trefoil. 
 
 And the wide branching trees with their foliage and shade ; 
 
 And fruits in their seasons — that the world gulping despoil ; 
 They all take and enjoy of them, and barter and trade 
 
 In them, but little ponder on the source whence they come ; 
 
 Or the account for them all, wUl have yet to be made. . 
 Ye are spared to see much is very grievous for some 
 
 Of us, of same kind and good, that have taught you to read ; 
 
 And rare always in the world are they, now, and whilom ; 
 And your lot, in this blest then, that ye have not the need 
 
 To be ever contemplating a world doth abuse 
 
 The good gifts of Heaven, by their neglect or their greed. 
 If with this I acquaint you, it is but to diffuse 
 
 A sad consolation on your melancholy lot. 
 
 While much I grieve, that Mankind Heaven's gifts so misuse. 
 
164 
 
 But for that, not to think have ye that I have forgot 
 My love for my fellows, because some of them do wrong. 
 Nor for even this portion, not small have ye to wot : 
 
 And for them, too, the Physicians on Earth ye belong. 
 So good is our Nature, it is not easily spoiled. 
 Nay, I say never, but covered up is, in the throng, 
 
 With the husks of the Evil that was not by them foiled ; 
 And enveloping the fruit they too greedily snatched ; 
 Or grit, that in the heart of it lay secretly coiled. 
 
 Our wisdom, for most of us, is not evenly matched 
 With the need for it we have, and exposure we in : 
 Exposure in taking, the Spot of Evil be catched ; 
 
 An infectious disease, that in the Science call Sin ; 
 
 I mean the Science of the Truth of which I have spoken ; 
 And its knowledge, in the Scriptures to study and win. 
 
 Grew evil so virulent, and with such fatal token 
 
 And in so many kinds, there needed strong Medicine 
 To stop its contagion, and that its fever be broken ; 
 
 Then Heaven from its Truth's milk, distilled an oil vaccine 
 Would with faith in it and struggle, the distemper cure ; 
 And provided a Death to its spots and scars calcine. 
 
165 
 
 Then immortally we rise, from the relapse secure ; 
 
 Or well on to it ; and if there still needs, then still helps. 
 
 Dear Friends, we have to learn here to see, and to endure 
 In, the paths of peace and love ; now, often baying whelps 
 
 In the world many of us, nor know we what is peace ; 
 
 Nor takes the good things the man himself, but snarls and yelps. 
 Like the dog in the manger, at who come to the feasts 
 
 Spread out by Heaven's love for us, to take at our will. 
 
 But discreetly to take, warning us, and like the Priests, 
 Offer Sacrifice in our enjoyments ; pour or spill 
 
 A portion before Heaven, bound the sensual greed ; 
 
 And tell it we reverence, and would obey its Will ; 
 And win our Salvation ; not Grood Heaven have to bleed. 
 
CANTO II. 
 
 Virtue for you and for all of us, my dear blind friends, 
 And all Truth, is the just way, and the only safe road 
 To our salvation : and by it too, sympathy wends 
 
 Into our bosoms for thought of your drear dark abode 
 
 In the flesh ; that yet with many dangers and joys fraught ; 
 But lighted up, with all joys ; and temptations more goad. 
 
 There is much, to your blindness would reconcile you, taught 
 In it ; but better is, in your ignorance to stay. 
 Than to have from EviPs Slavery then to be brought. 
 
 By travail of repentance, on your spirits would weigh ; 
 
 And console, for your blindness, that your souls may stay pure 
 With less travail on Earth, to learn the Truth to obey. 
 
 To learn to go in the Truth, and in it to endure. 
 
 Is in Heaven to dwell ; where ye will see like the rest ; 
 The Righteous, by the Resurrection enter there sure. 
 
 To be Righteous, is to experience in your breast ; 
 But also to do is, on all occasions present : 
 All work of the hand that is in Righteousness, is blest ; 
 
167 
 
 Or, be ye Author, or Poet, it still must assent 
 Ere the line or the stanza ye do dictate complete : 
 It will tell you, if worthy ; and such only consent 
 
 To publish, I counsel, of flowers or staple wheat ; 
 For with evil ye might otherwise come to confuse. 
 Or barrenness soothe in a complacency unmeet. 
 
 Or encourage a mood for the poor and the refuse. 
 We have now to study, before we get to be wise 
 To teach the degenerate who so all things abuse ; 
 
 In their way they are knowing, and straightway paralyze 
 
 The endeavor not well tempered to pierce through their scales ; 
 And in general. Truth's lesson must characterize. 
 
 Or the words are but ciphers, and the endeavor fails : 
 And there is a world of such now, from people with eyes ; 
 And with a mind that pure and wise is. Time never stales. 
 
 Read ye always of that for meditation supplies, 
 Congenial to the nature, and wafting you up high : 
 Such history, doth always with Truth philosophize ; 
 
 Poetry, that will waft you up even to the sky ; 
 
 Truth, that explains to you how aU men ought to wayfare, 
 And enables you, to in you temptation defy. 
 
168 
 
 This, in the heart haunt may, though to the eyes it not stare, 
 
 And quickly subdue it then, and stay in calm content ; 
 
 Cherish pure thoughts, not images make seeing eyes flare ; 
 A world of all good, fancy, no evil with it blent ; 
 
 And our God there descending to a Heaven it make. 
 
 Dwell in a Paradise, your bosom its tenement, 
 That though ye even working, will your heart's longing slake. 
 
 Oh ! ye blind, ye blind, there is a heaven ; I have looked 
 
 For it, and in a book is far wiser than men rake 
 Their straw out of and only the left gist by them booked ; 
 
 And wisdom, we to take have for the actual true ; 
 
 And is worthy all the rest for it be overlooked. 
 It has lasted now, since even the years were quite new, 
 
 And of the newest it tells, when man made on the Earth ; 
 
 And the way we have come over, correctly doth sLow " 
 In history and Prophecy ; of like and same worth : 
 
 A wisdom, that all the Past Present and Future tells. 
 
 And the Future for all men, from the others the birth ; 
 Though all of the working. Wisdom helps, when it impels. 
 
 But ever of the man's help, hath Wisdom need to aid 
 
 Man, and whom it aids, works, or otherwise he repels 
 
169 
 
 Heaven's ministry of love, and labors to persuade : 
 
 For persuasion is the motive it ever employs, 
 
 And by all that is precious, it to miss make afraid. 
 Oh ! kind and gracious is, and ever put would its joys 
 
 Into our bosom, and fill it with heavenly peace : 
 
 But we most of us foolish, we amuse us with toys. 
 And therein your advantage lies, the sight may not fleece 
 
 You of contemplation, nor may your bosom distract. 
 
 Nor wake in you vagaries of the idle Caprice. 
 Within a narrower scope too, ye are held, to act ; 
 
 Tour worldly thoughts keeping all in a more straightened range, 
 
 Then less by so much, from the Heavenly to attract. 
 Nor field is there ever, for you to hope any change : 
 
 Indeed ye shut in are, for the Heaven to prepare ; 
 
 And accept your lot then so high ; nor seek to derange 
 The scope and plan will you to Paradise take, with care. 
 
 The world is full of show, and of vanity, and pride ; 
 
 Nor figure in it the poor, but with a sorry fare. 
 The striving, with many troubles are tossed far and wide, 
 
 The idle and rich, are sorely pushed to pass their time, 
 
 The frolicking are led into the wild foolish stride ; . 
 9 ' 
 
170 
 
 The fashionables ridiculed, taking their pastime : 
 
 The lawyers, speeches verbose make, in dry words and long ; 
 
 The clergy oft mistake, when they think they are sublime ; 
 And say little of the Truth, when correcting the wrong : 
 
 Many poor people suffer, though toiling the whole day ; 
 
 Many wicked are abroad, to the prisons belong ; 
 Hardly pushed often virtue is, to keep its own way, 
 
 And sadly fails of respect to it justly is due ; 
 
 And few of the community in life Truth portray. 
 The spectacle around, would be surprising to you. 
 
 When comparing what we are, with what we ought to be ; 
 
 And to find of Truth loving and well doing so few. 
 But we are striving and hoping, and we all agree 
 
 There is room to do better, and for it we will try. 
 
 Ye must think of us better, than ye would to us see ; 
 Your sympathy awake for us, your eyes not be dry 
 
 While you think of us striving ; and your prayers ascend 
 
 To Heaven, for all open who for it seek and sigh. 
 The evil attracting, as said, it does not yet lend 
 
 A peace, or true joy ; it only flatters and deludes. 
 
 And leaves us in a worse state than before, at the end ; 
 
171 
 
 Its recollection momently upon us intrudes, 
 
 And to imagine will lead us, we did not well choose ; 
 That, temptation to renew the endeavor includes ; 
 
 Constantly the remembrance to the fresh trial woos. 
 And however we repeat, will in fine disappoint : 
 Nothing at all is to gain in it, and much to lose. 
 
 In so far, then, ye happy, who eyes have not anoint 
 With a vision is capable to lead you astray, 
 For much is there we look at, to put us out of joint : 
 
 And for this, did the Saviour tell and teach us to pray, 
 And bid us to say " And lead us not into temptation" 
 And " but deliver us from evil ;" also did say, 
 
 And we may also, " are wiser in their Generation 
 
 The children of this world than are the children of light ;'' 
 And he spake of the light is beheld in contemplation ; 
 
 And a high commendation of this art, is it, quite ; 
 And likewise the art is entirely at your command ; 
 You all may be instructed, your blindness in despite. 
 
 By your own application, with the use of your hand. 
 Blest be the benevolent who have taught you to read 
 And have labored to translate into letters upstand 
 
172 
 
 To meet you with Heaven's inessage, we all so much need. 
 All the wisdom in the world, in that book is contained, 
 And is better than the World's, that to save, makes Christ bleed. 
 
 In the Truth and its virtues, we have all to be trained ; 
 And to train us ourselves have, even though we are blind ; 
 Nor else can we find us in the Truth to have remained. 
 
 In much love for you, I seek to Truth into you wind 
 With the zigzag lines will make your fingers to oft cross 
 Both downwards and backwards, the just connection to find ; — 
 
 As might our Saviour's bound hands, when he doomed to the 
 cross ! 
 
CANTO III. 
 
 Oh I ye blind, Oh I ye blind, I am still drawn to you blind ; 
 
 Somewhat tell you I would of Truth's story in the world ; 
 
 And the Blind in it to figure have not been behind : 
 A figure has your ease been, had to men Truth unfurled, 
 
 But that blinded they were so by the evil they did ; 
 
 The steams from their evil in so great volumes upcurled. 
 Truth from their understanding they effectively hid ; 
 
 The case was they loved it, and with it fraught were their deeds, 
 
 That hath effect on the eyes to down drop the eyelid. 
 In this world good men are, ye know, for helping your needs, 
 
 And by the same too, the Truth and its light handed down ; 
 
 And the Scriptures, that to every one show it who reads. 
 And earnestly loves too, and seeks ; in country or town. 
 
 But the evil I have told of, loved by many men. 
 
 Its steams into clouds grow, till they the Truth wellnigh drown ; 
 Pervading the atmosphere, and the world a dark den 
 
 Then, for snakes and wild animals and vermin to haunt : 
 
 And though some men kind and gentle, they fare hardly then. 
 
174 
 
 Thus came there to be among us, of light so much want, 
 
 That Heaven did in its love at length down to us send 
 
 Messengers and Prophets ; for our evil not to taunt. 
 But to tell us the Truth again ; and counsel to blend 
 
 It in our lives, and proffer to the willing its aid ; 
 
 And many were there found, to its proffers would ear lend : 
 And received its instruction, and truth somewhat portrayed. 
 
 Put it into their lives, and saw and shone in its light ; 
 
 In part cured their blindness, and partly reft th' Evil's shade ; 
 But old grew the message, and enfeebled too its might 
 
 To constrain the hearts of men, and their steps for them guide ; 
 
 For to th' Evil again fell, had before made their night. 
 It was not, the light did not shine, but they gone aside, 
 
 Made them walk in the dark again, and stumble and fall. 
 
 Then the Wisdom and love, that benignly do preside 
 Over the whole universe, in their bosom felt call 
 
 They could not resist, to our rescue to come and haste, 
 
 And give the light and example, be ample for all ; 
 And all time too, and to every one see it, and taste 
 
 The beauty and relish of the pure heavenly fruit, 
 
 In a whole life upon Earth would be guileless and chaste, 
 
175 
 
 And with every man's nature would enchantingly suit. 
 
 Then Christ came for this, the Son oi God ; for love he came, 
 
 Truth for the heart to show, and for each daily pursuit ; 
 And the effect of it to be, as shown by his name 
 
 Jesus, to save all the following him from their sins ; 
 
 Thus putting from us before Heaven, our crying shame. 
 And was it not in Him good to so help us, and wins 
 
 It not all the love from us that our hearts can bestow. 
 
 And can there ever be stop for it, when it begins ? 
 Grod lives and reigns, and in his bosom did a love glow. 
 
 And Children would He have then, to it soothe and delight; 
 
 And soon around Him built He a universe ; below ; 
 Above, and far away off too look little specks bright ; 
 
 But love traversing it all, when its bidding be felt : 
 
 For His children did He build it, to dwell in the light 
 Of His countenance, in the Truth, and to with love melt 
 
 For Him and their brethren, one family in it all : 
 
 This He did, and set the man upon the Earth ; but tell't 
 How can I ; disobeyed the man, from the Truth did fall ; 
 
 Love he thwarted, and into evil plunged, and despak ; 
 
 Blind he became, and on his way staggered, the poor thrall 
 
176 
 
 Of Temptation, and at its beck led was every where ; 
 
 Made him, the Man, of love unworthy and incapable, 
 
 And his dignified mien lost he, and his noble air ; 
 Seemed from him, evil to be almost inseparable ; 
 
 The danger came, imminent, it into Heaven enters ; 
 
 The Sons of God showed them on the Earth of the rapeable : 
 Then a rumbling of Earthquake rolled there up from the centres ; 
 
 The fair Earth, enveloped a storm-loaded atmosphere ; 
 
 Wind clouds overhung the degenerate, on the tenters : 
 And washing off of the evil then, the field to clear 
 
 For a scene of Probation, and Heavenly discipline ; 
 
 By Heaven dispensed, for love of Children to it dear. 
 The distemper to watch was, and timely give medicine, 
 
 The aid only according, in its desperate need ; 
 
 Freedom let alone till it tottering on the death sin. 
 Respect hath our God, for the nature is of his seed ; 
 
 Our infirmities knoweth, and them conquer may man ; 
 
 And to conquer will assist, and to victory lead, 
 While He afilicts and tempers him in his earthly span ; 
 
 That he raise him from worldly, in the Heaven to dwell : 
 
 Then in order calls Moses to prosecute the plan ; 
 
177 
 
 Show Truth to the degenerate ; and danger of Hell 
 For the wicked, self-made, inevitable ; last spur 
 To charge upon gallop on it, and its whole might fell ; 
 
 Overwhelm its whole Phalanx, and to the Truth transfer 
 A loyal allegiance, and hold it evermore. 
 Many good men came by Moses, and many to err 
 
 Still continued ; foreseen, and that Truth to be told o'er 
 Again ; and for it the world be thus trained and prepared ; 
 And for same, scattered the two tribes were on every shore ; 
 
 And of virtue so much showed, all the world at them stared ; 
 And persecute did too, but so well had they been drilled. 
 They in all of their wanderings in troops still wayfared ; 
 
 Aiding it Persecution, that many of them killed. [guard ; 
 
 They kept with them the Scriptures, from Heathenism their 
 And the Passover held with the Pascal lamb's blood spilled. 
 
 Their lesson of Truth when they delivered from the hard 
 Bondage of Pharaoh, of the Egyptians then king : 
 As told and sung in the Scriptures, by the Prophet Bard : 
 
 Then the moral nutations eventual, doth bring 
 
 The august Son ; and witness completes, Moses began : [sing ; 
 
 Years passed then, three hundred, smee the Prophets ceased to 
 9* 
 
178 
 
 And four thousand and four years since transgressed the first man. 
 
 The evil to do, but a very little while takes, 
 
 But undoing, lengthening Probationary Plan. 
 That now Earth not a Paradise, is, that man forsakes [blind ; 
 
 The Truth, and forthwith then, dear friends, like you, becomes 
 
 Blind, for in the Moral mistakes, till his sight not wakes ; 
 And while cleansing, and restoring, ages fall behind. 
 
 Your sight even, long has been lingering in the dark 
 
 While love pure enough flowed not, to purify the mind ; 
 Nor the heart purely work enough to teach embossed mark : 
 
 The fingers and hands all, were in the evil so dipped ; 
 
 Pure emotions fast blocked were, blind the moral sight stark ; 
 To the gracious employment blind, your blindness had whipped 
 
 Long ago : all high discoveries lingered and whiled 
 
 Till the foreskin of the heart by long woes had been clipped, 
 And no longer the kind feelings so thoroughly riled. 
 
 Short is Truth's lesson, but long has taken to be learned ; 
 
 Hard work is it, from evil to get quite unbeguiled ; 
 To succor you, a few have very long sought and yearned ; 
 
 But in the world stay must ye, till it morally see, 
 
 And in some liberty it act, without being burned. 
 
179 
 
 To stay had ye, till allowed our salvation is free ; 
 Nor quackeries specific from Heaven come, to cure 
 The running sores that break out with each devilish spree ; 
 
 For of the devil temptation doth to them allm*e ; 
 
 And such in itself the spree ; and becomes not our Being : 
 Our nature is of God, and in it we must endure ; 
 
 Time passes, but ever eternity is decreeing. 
 
 Oh ! tenderly in my thoughts, ye all are. Oh ! ye Blind ; 
 Still labor to be truthful, from your blindness you freeing : 
 
 And unto God, do it ye who the heart's wounds upbind. 
 
CANTO IV. 
 
 I have sought, my blind friends, in so far, to introduce 
 
 Such themes for your reflection, though they even involved 
 In some complication, or seeming to be abstruse, 
 
 That should make you feel interested till they resolved : 
 And therein, it appears to me, should lie your resource, 
 That capacities in you, of their task be absolved. 
 
 Yet much, I am aware, there is for me to discourse 
 Upon, nor yet dwell on the unprofitable range 
 Of the World's common entertainments ; that lean and coarse ; 
 
 Unless suggesting therewith some advantageous change. 
 For always in reflection ye will find Truth suggests. 
 If ye fraught with it, approbation, or else a strange . 
 
 Ignorance of each matter, by its most common tests. 
 Nor am I free from apprehension, upon the score 
 Of your just welfare, that ye encounter may some rests 
 
 Of an old spirit, or sentiment, not wise of yore ; 
 
 And now prevalent still, with of Wisdom or Truth name. 
 It is natural your thoughts should much heavenwards soar ; 
 
181 
 
 Ye look will for the kingdom where your sight not be lame, 
 
 And your friends will very gladly accord in your wish. 
 
 But even our good, that they are, not ay do proclaim 
 Eight Wisdom and Truth ; that so pure are, they seem childish 
 
 Almost, even where they are loved, and where they would save : 
 
 Nor yet moved by any thought or feeling is selfish. 
 Confusion is there now for the studious and grave ; 
 
 The opinions about wisdom are not all in one, 
 
 And a purer expression of it many do crave. 
 The multitude of words is, they think, quite overdone ; 
 
 And especially for you is it not to desire : 
 
 Known then, for my own satisfaction I had begun, 
 Some years have now passed, to very earnestly inquire 
 
 What is Truth, and some progress, as I think, having made, 
 
 Am quite willing you also all my learning acquire : 
 And shall use but few words ; for in them I do not trade. 
 
 God commands us to the Truth, and Love then 
 
 Springs out of the heart, and is not afraid. 
 What, to be in Truth ? On occasions when 
 
 We feel, think, do, we previously inquire 
 
 Carefully, if we fall into the den 
 
182 
 
 Of the Serpent, or small snakes, that attire 
 Flowers and fruits, to cunningly delude, 
 With charms that breed a mischievous desire. 
 
 And so upon our happiness intrude ; 
 Then, if so, utterly scorn we the bait. 
 To begin, and have this fixed habitude. 
 
 Is to learn to go and keep in the straight 
 Path of Truth, that plain and only safe road 
 I mentioned before, to the blissful Fate 
 
 We are born for ; in Paradise abode. 
 This, sure, is the tenor of our estate 
 As at beginning declared ; the whole code 
 
 Of our Father's laws, as He did them state 
 To Adam and Eve in the Paradise. 
 They disobeyed them ; but He doth await 
 
 From their children obedience precise 
 We able to give, more able than them : 
 Experience helps, to take the just slice 
 
 Of fruit we gather, that is the emblem 
 Of all to be taken, done, said, or felt 
 By us ; there should each time the perfect gem 
 
183 
 
 Be picked, from all the odor of is smelt ; 
 
 Or most of us with eyes, then by them seen ; 
 
 Or joy, if felt, and to it we have knelt, 
 It be never of the class called obscene ; 
 
 That is odious, for Love must be pure : 
 
 And for it, we pure ; in Truth, white and clean. 
 It is life for you, to be pure and in it endure. 
 
 Grod's laws that He so stated has, embrace his whole Will, 
 
 One Commandment of Purity despite every lure. 
 But these laws to apply, we have all to get a skill, 
 
 For the cases are numerous, to not be writ down ; 
 
 However we should try, of left out there would be still : 
 The strength is to be in us, will with Righteousness crown : 
 
 And this, the whole secret of the Probatory training. 
 
 While we wending in life, we have so often to frown 
 On the lure of some Pleasure would leave evil remaining, 
 
 Experience might profit us, so Heaven esteemed. 
 
 Before entering its abodes ; to thence keep from waning : 
 For there have we to shine as have stars unsullied beamed. 
 
 Except by the Earth's atmosphere, since forth went the Word 
 
 Commanded to be, and they were ; and wise it was deemed 
 
184 
 
 So man to constitute that if needed he might gird 
 
 Him with a breastplate of Righteousness, before he enter 
 The Society of Heaven, and become a Bird 
 
 Of Paradise, its plumage by him won, or with tenter 
 That fast clutched and naturally, to never then fall 
 Out ; nor ever be reft by bait or hook of the Tempter. 
 
 You see then, we here too are of Heaven ; and have call 
 To heavenly acquit us, hold us loftily high, 
 And endow for Heaven's joys, that the pure never pall 
 
 On us ; never ; never : nor we ever come to sigh. 
 
 In the midst of our pure pleasures, for ought might alloy 
 That blessed estate, and that is all here makes us die ; 
 
 For the righteous Enoch , ye know, did not death employ 
 To take him to Heaven, but in his own strength he went ; 
 And our Saviour, same ; though did him the wicked destroy ; 
 
 Or so deemed of the body, by them cruelly shent ; 
 But in that body he ascended and out of sight 
 Of disciples witnessing to the blissful event. 
 
 Attests that event every witness that convince might. 
 My friends, we dwell in the centre of magnificence : 
 It spreads and deepens around us, till we almost fright 
 
\ 
 
 185 
 
 To behold, and offer irrepressible incense 
 
 Of awe to the Majesty around and in us creeps, 
 For a moment, to house in its dwelling lit by sense ; 
 
 But most of us do not keep it long, it rather steeps 
 Our frolicking Spirits to uncongenially sad ; 
 Or unable these to hold it, departs ; or it sleeps, 
 
 As told of Lazarus, and proved, when seemingly had 
 Death of him empowered itself, and even to fast hold 
 For three days ; until the Life and Resurrection bade 
 
 Him to come forth ; and come he did, in grave-clothes days old. 
 We die, though we frolic ; and what to come then and thence ! 
 Or where to go we, in the sad condition I told ? 
 
 Be heedful of Infinity, and all it dispense ; 
 
 Of it we are ; and profoundly enter on it there, 
 Freed from the fleshly tabernacle, its scope doth fence 
 
 In ; but holds it the Soul ; and dispenses free as air ; 
 Infinite Beings we, and in the Unity blend 
 May, that combines at length all the moral pure and fair. 
 
 Let us daily then fit for the quick change doth attend ; 
 The heavenly transfiguration, we may receive ; 
 Like Jesus on the Mount, where of the dead three did wend. 
 
186 
 
 I commend to you once more, in the Scriptures believe, 
 And ye study them daily, and meditate the night 
 On them ; they have of Infinity to never leave 
 
 You idle for exhausted ; and to feel, without light 
 
 Of the Sun, Moon, or Planets, or fixed stars in the blue 
 Heaven, that figures it, and makes present to us quite ; 
 
 Delight in it to ramble, but purely you imbue. 
 And always so imbue ; be careful in little things, 
 Keep them right, and always right, and your whole will be true : 
 
 Fare ye well now, ye Blind ; but your remembrance still clings. 
 
WALL STREET 
 
WALL STREET. 
 
 CANTO I. 
 
 Still following, what now thorny Path I haye marked out 
 To go in of the Truth ; and hoping to introduce 
 It right well into Society, and utter rout 
 
 And discomfiture inflict upon all its abuse ; 
 
 And the abuse, what and where, show till sting in the mind, 
 And shame upon the face too ; I start upon a cruise 
 
 Of observation : and as left the evil behind, 
 
 Will along take with me the accurate counterpart. 
 That beneath the Eeflector it show, till there none blind 
 
 To its true quality and working out of the heart. 
 
 All that by us loved, in the heart dwells ^ and the heart pure, 
 Blameless and perfect then do the outgoings depart. 
 
 That " ye shall know them by their works," is the faithful sure 
 Word of divine Prophecy ; and the whole Scripture of it is ; 
 Its field the Past and the Present, and while Time endure, 
 
190 
 
 And offerings of all of them painted in the Prophecies : 
 
 The mirror that looked in will reflect straightway and show 
 Likenesses, character and dealings in Broker's offices. 
 
 Through the social aspects to fathom, quite down below 
 The surface, and deep into the miserable mire 
 Where even Immortal Beings some, wont to wallow 
 
 Degenerate, very little is there to inspire : 
 
 And with much care to guard have we the venturous soul, 
 That not quench the contagion there its Immortal fire : 
 
 Pure love must lead ever and govern ; and burning coal 
 Of Purity defend us, as erst Minerva's shield. 
 While threading we through the degenerate stye and hole 
 
 Of the festering Evil till it purged be and healed. 
 That Man, Immortal Being, of the nature of Grod, 
 And able to the Truth know, and do it, and then sealed 
 
 Of the Blest ones and having his feet shod 
 With Righteousness and head lifted high up 
 And treading in the Path the Saviour trod ; 
 
 And capable to ride with his foot in the stirrup 
 
 Of Faith even ; and know and be sure of the unseen 
 Real and eternal ; and partake from the pure cup 
 
191 
 
 Of tli« Immortals, and to invest their dazzling sheen 
 Our mortal eyes in flesh cannot even look on ; and 
 As the stars to shine forever and ever serene ; 
 
 And to have his Front bound with the Immortal garland ; 
 For him to wallow in Evil's sluices, and to glut 
 Him, till his hand dipped in it even to the wristband ; 
 
 And to violate decencies and sink into rut 
 Of despicable self love, and its misery hug, 
 And to dwell all in its sticking mire and smear and smut ; 
 
 Then count him altogether thriving and safe and snug : 
 Oh ! this is a wonder, and condemnation for man. 
 For me rather the cup of cold water, and the mug 
 
 Of new milk, and the crust of brown bread for the whole span 
 Of my days, and Righteousness working out in my ways, 
 Charity glowing in my heart, without any fan 
 
 Of gain blowing on it to kindle to instant blaze 
 
 For excessive commission, or exchange or discount, 
 Or any contrivance that would the interest raise. 
 
 I have known a man, and I will the case now recount 
 For a warning, that seemed honorable just and kind. 
 Well off, and doing business to a large amount ; 
 
192 
 
 Religious I think too ; nor ever falling behind 
 
 In payment to the hour ; and inside of the extremes ; 
 And he prospering in all. But there came then a blind 
 Infatuation on the People ; and many schemes 
 
 Were hatched, and various plans in opposition rose ; 
 Or adventurers would speculate, and dreamed great dreams, 
 And orderly expedients they did then dispose 
 
 To acquit them, to fill the shadow of wealth or power, 
 Or Passion ; and who baffle, triumphantly depose. 
 The issue followed that trouble began soon to lower. 
 For all the recklessly violated laws of trade ; 
 And merchants and many Institutions had to cower, 
 Because if Bank notes were redeemed debts could not be paid : 
 And this man a debtor and a creditor at large. 
 Did neither receive, nor pay, as the bargain was made : 
 A common case, and upon the predicate to charge. 
 He was very sorry, and all that he could, he did ; 
 For his paper he would give such he held, with a marge 
 From the exchange and the interest to leave it rid ; 
 Or let it lie as it was till he able to pay. 
 He had a friend and creditor who bid, 
 
193 
 
 Or allowed him to do which ever way 
 Best suited, for some thousands of the stuff 
 For best thought, and counted on to the day. 
 
 It had been good, but was not good enough 
 
 For trying times, when Banks and Merchants fail, 
 And shown who of all is tender or tough, 
 
 Who weather or must wreck in pinch, or gale : 
 Or quarrel between Government and Bank. 
 In fine he was reduced, in anguish, pale, 
 
 Sick, disappointed, disheartened, in lank 
 Penury, to ask discharge of the debt 
 Left, for trifle paid ; and with heartfelt thank 
 
 Received it : kind his friend, nor did forget 
 Same might befall him, by chances await 
 On them all who push their fortune and fret 
 
 To grow rich, though he hoping to improve on the Fate 
 Or life or mind of his fellows, in the leisure hours 
 Would follow, and win them to the heavenly estate. 
 
 The years wended on their course, and Present only ours. 
 
 That friend in a condition found him then to befriend 
 
 By the friend he had befriended ; who listens and sours. 
 10 
 
194 
 
 It was a simple matter ; not "a debt without end 
 And with continual pother, but a simple loan 
 From the abundance that Sympathy timely did lend 
 
 A hand to shed upon him ; and to securely own 
 
 The wherewith it acquitted, and that forthcoming soon ; 
 The silver or gold, either, as most gratefully shone 
 
 To his baiting eyes : but he talks then, and tells some moon 
 Stories. I tempted him (with the De'il then in compact,) 
 And I wrecked him entirely : and bestow now free boon, 
 
 As I yielded it erst, and crowned the word with the act, 
 A lesson of wisdom ; lest he should come to a wreck 
 At the lastby neglecting charity, to transact 
 
 Close bargains and shaves, paying the well diminished check 
 By the discount, or legal sale from the laws relief 
 Secure ; of his precious soul, with its miserly fleck ; 
 
 Worse than in or out bound ship in ice on near by reef 
 Drift, with India's, Europe's or home wares : or the rich 
 Man who did Abraham beseech, in his thirst and grief. 
 
 To send to him Lazarus, to assuage the sore itch 
 
 From the flame was tormenting him, and to cool his tongue. 
 I forgive him altogether, and would only switch 
 
195 
 
 The vices and follies and talk are comnjon among 
 
 Men who will cunningly make the wrong appear straightway 
 To be right, and doing it, in the right to have clung. 
 
 This land of Freedom holds many a soul in the clay 
 
 More counts of the Money's worth, than it does of the Soul's ; 
 I pity them, without a cent, and pray. 
 
 And would help, them to learn better ; ere tolls 
 The knell of their march to sleep with the dead. 
 Oh ! seek ye ay with judgment the charity consoles 
 
 The afflicted and suffering, and o'er life's ills spread 
 
 A healing balm and mantling glow ; the timely kind office 
 Multiply becomingly to your fellows, and shed 
 
 Freely of all your blessings, own Heaven's sacrifice. * 
 
 Ye had better, my friend, have done me the slight request, 
 And most cheerfully rendered the opportune service ; 
 
 I had done it myself for only Love's high behest ; 
 
 But ye ought to, for the kindness when ye did not pay ; 
 I forgive you, and pity and hope for you the best. 
 
 We are living here now for the month, or year, or day, 
 Never the bit in our mouth, nor the halter or rein 
 To hold us in, and invited to make our display 
 
196 • 
 
 Beneath the laws of Truth and Charity, and we reign 
 
 In the Heaven henceforth, or we serve in the bad place ; 
 
 And we bad in ourselves, it will us thither constrain. 
 Pause we then', and consider how this race 
 
 Be run, and timely reckon up the cost. 
 
 Not the heap of Gold is it, saves, but Grace : — 
 The best of us ; and working for it, or we are lost : 
 
 Nor unpleasant the work, if we are pure. 
 
 I counsel you, your bosom not be tost 
 With every cast of the interest, or by the lure 
 
 Of high percentage in the home or foreign exchange ; 
 
 Your business is lawful, and passably secure. 
 Be content then to keep it in a moderate range ; 
 
 And your thoughts and hopes, seasonably you send to soar 
 
 Where you and I, willing, follow may ; when come the change, 
 To-day, or the morrow, or soon, then to change no more. 
 
 Heaven is before us all, the Kingdom of the Blest ; 
 
 We may to it attain, we may all stand on its shore ; 
 From all of our toil and our struggle, there we may rest, 
 
 And we dwell in all blessedness and peace and content 
 
 Forever and ever, if only we stand the test 
 
197 
 
 Will be put to us there, if Truth and Love rightly blent 
 In all our wayfare here : and let us look to it well ; 
 And diligently the message follow, Heaven sent 
 
 Of Love, and for love, that we in High Heaven then dwell. 
 
CANTO II. 
 
 The Good and Bad, all go along together, and thrive 
 Respectively in the World, in such divers degrees 
 That circumstance or cunning or honesty contrive, 
 
 Of who either affect do ; here or there, as may please 
 Who alone determines, the Individual Man ; 
 Nor any exempt is entirely from that disease. 
 
 Or epidemic, with our common father began. 
 
 In money, the dealing seems forever to be fraught 
 With one danger especial; that it narrows the span. 
 
 And withers the sympathies, in our nature are wrought. 
 Experience so tells us, and looking makes it plain, 
 Shrink do all the sympathies for money sold and bought. 
 
 A security, we imagine, may make us vain. 
 
 And in Gold there a power to buy slave or the man ; 
 Or the slave it makes even, with the golden gilt chain ; 
 
 And handsome enough but very binding in its span. 
 Gold seems, of sympathy to a very little hold, 
 And to squeeze for it is utterly trouble in vain : 
 
199 
 
 Nor persuasion less fruitless, in general, for gold. 
 Though the metal be soft, it is tenacious beyond 
 Reach of Sympathy, to either suppliant or scold : 
 
 Security is to deposit, stipulate Bond 
 
 It enveloping, and with the full adequate marge 
 Against the peril or accident for this so fond 
 
 Property, and to cover the incidental charge : 
 
 And all is right in its measure. But to make a chain 
 Of it, and the heart to bind up to never enlarge ; 
 
 Though it tender by Nature be, and opens to strain 
 Of kind sympathy, or charity, or olden ties 
 May be of blood, or of acquaintance ; however plain 
 
 The security or want or kindness were to eyes 
 Of the happy holder, in abundance to oppress 
 With inquietude for any loss that may arise ; 
 
 Or trouble, or fear, impracticable to repress 
 When valuable money let to go out of hand ; 
 Just seems more deplorable than is now to express. 
 
 I wot very well the right of all men to command 
 The whole use, and disposition entire, of their own ; 
 And how to use it they do very well understand : . 
 
200 
 
 But some consideration and a kindness yet shown, 
 Even with some trouble, is becoming for the rich : 
 Although they of Wall-Street, and rich, honestly have grown. 
 
 The timely kindnesses to any friends, are a witch 
 Able, an effluent pleasure to spread in the heart : 
 And there its field is for the rich, and they take a stitch 
 
 Upon happiness in its stronghold, and not to part ; 
 The pleasurable reminiscence ay long will stay. 
 And will grow too, and be fruitful ; and often too start 
 
 Will, in the lone moments, or the dreary thoughts, and play 
 Friskily through blood may be stagnating in old veins 
 And has done feal service for full many a day. 
 
 The grateful recollection is not the least of gains 
 
 We here may heap up in this pilgrimage we now wend, 
 To crown with after contentment its waning remains. 
 
 The interest accruing from kind act might amend 
 
 Or the remissness of Fortune, or the lack of prudence, 
 In our fellow, might be grateful as nearing life's end ; 
 
 For the Heaven not barred is to repentant Imprudents. 
 The dealing in money does not need that we forswear 
 Any virtues they learn who of the Scriptures are students ; 
 
201 
 
 As the most are, who will take for the Future good care. 
 I once tempted a man that standing well in Wall-Street, 
 And deservedly so, where the long standing is rare : 
 
 Many dealings had had with him, and though indiscreet 
 On my part, this not at all was to charge upon him : 
 He said, it for a man out of business not meet 
 
 To do ; but a kind Man I think, the eyes even dim. 
 Had not found any obstacle. I sought to endue 
 In him a pleasurable feeling, it was no whim 
 
 Of my own ; it had exactly the reason was due 
 To authorize it ; and rather more was for his sake 
 Than for my own, it chafed me that he did not imbue, 
 
 And so led me the present kind task to undertake. 
 
 The feelings should not narrow for us, but more expand 
 As we nearing the brink whence flight to Heaven we make. 
 
 And better is to enjoy somewhat ourselves, than hand 
 All of our abundance over to such grateful heirs, 
 That though not our children, will yield them to our command, 
 
 Of their respect or love, and charge assume of our wares. 
 
 Count it pleasurable to do kind deed 
 
 For the deserving, having manv cares 
 10* 
 
202 
 
 Perplexing them for children's sake, and need 
 
 To furnish their food, and clothing, and learning ; 
 
 And to pay who is teaching them to read 
 And on a fund in hand, to him returning 
 
 Who would lend, by his own act, would just borrow 
 
 Of his own a part no interest earning, 
 And legally going to him the morrow 
 
 Or day after : or sure not very long : 
 
 But he thought differently, to my sorrow. 
 I esteem him ; it was habit ; it did not belong 
 
 To way of business or who from business free : 
 
 Or even to old and kind associations, strong 
 By tie of kin, though in the fourth degree 
 
 My friend is growing old and I advise 
 
 Him to cultivate kind feelings, and be 
 Happier : to open his heart, be wise 
 
 In happiness that springs from kindly act. 
 
 I shall not even look to see what prize 
 Awaits for his heirs when the black seal cracked 
 
 But think and hope for him as I may dare 
 
 With all his many kind and good deeds backed ; 
 
203 
 
 And from all wickedness entirely bare. 
 
 There's something in Money's nature to dull 
 The edge of benevolence, though it spare 
 
 The fund or body ; to give thought they cull, 
 Who have it, impulse natural and just 
 Of their Being, many of them, and cheerful 
 
 Sound objects promote, sound beneath the crust. 
 And large of scope ; but charities neglect 
 Of small dimensions ; yet are these, I must 
 
 Believe, important more, and will protect 
 From ills and heartaches better than t' invest 
 The whole in plans by others to be wrecked 
 
 Carrying out, when they in their long rest. 
 To do our good just as we go along, 
 Or much of it, will prove to be the best. 
 
 The World from good has turned to so much wrong, 
 To do the good is better than to leave 
 By others to be done however strong 
 
 The injunction, or means large, or may grieve 
 The new possessors. Seek, and not avoid 
 Present and just occasion to relieve 
 
204 
 
 Other's ills ; nor it coming, feel annoyed. 
 My friend deems, I believe, the Scriptures true ; 
 And I do certainly, for have employed 
 Time examining, all needs, to imbue 
 In us the conviction ; and also wise : 
 Of rich men, then, there will be but a few 
 In Heaven : from Riches dangers arise, 
 Because to keep and add to them employs 
 For most, mind and time from early sunrise 
 Till night stoop down, and stop perforce their joys. 
 Riches bar not from Heaven, but are weight 
 May hold us back ; they are dangerous toys 
 The thoughts diverting from that High estate : 
 And their just use even, a heavy tax 
 On our time is, and drag upon our Fate. 
 Only the good we do, wards their attacks 
 On our welfare. I pray you then with care 
 To minister their good, and for what lacks 
 To fill your time, glean a sense of the rare 
 And precious wisdom in that Book contained 
 I told of, that pierces the circumambient air, 
 
205 
 
 We breathing, life of flesh by it sustained ; 
 And tells though flesh do die, we may survive 
 Yet, if some strength in Righteousness have gained, 
 
 In bliss. Of this, well looking, I arrive 
 At conviction looks natural and plain. 
 And cheers in reverse, and prompts me to strive 
 
 For myself, you and all, that we attain 
 That destiny, without money or price. 
 By virtue, labor, here, we there maintain. 
 
 Happiness is in the man, clean and nice. 
 Care of riches keeps most in a turmoil 
 Not aiding it ; but rather does entice 
 
 Us ofl", till lost the prize, with all our toil. 
 
ADDENDUM. 
 
 My friend was kind, when on the matter had thought a little ; 
 And so justified my words, for I said what was true 
 Of him, and solidly good, and spake not as lick spittle ; 
 
 And for his good did speak, although he one of the few 
 That dealing in money and in stocks much heretofore. 
 Prom the stock of their nature do theu' life still imbue. 
 
 He gave me the money then by a loan, and before 
 He could prepare, to each man to distribute his share 
 As by the accounts all made up, and well all looked o'er, 
 
 To be sure that the whole fund he divide as was fair. 
 I thank him very much, for such witness to my views 
 That our nature is good, and we have just to take care 
 
 For sly evil, may creep in, in some one of its hues. 
 
 And cheat us out of righteousness, and right self esteem ; 
 That are our debt to ourselves, and most precious of dues ; 
 
 And beyond measure grateful, when their claims we redeem. 
 A true kindness my friend did me, and answered the call 
 Of charity divine ; and so, reflected the leme 
 
207 
 
 That from Heaven here sped was, to enlighten us all 
 In our darkness that self made ; its minister I count 
 Him ; and for it I thank him ; and also for the small 
 
 Loan that he made to me, although to the full amount 
 That I asked of him, and with kindly manner and look ; 
 And it written down now, beyond doubt, in the account 
 
 That for each of us opened in the Heavenly Book. 
 Long may your days be, my friend, to do good here below, 
 For the sake of your fellows, so by hook and by crook 
 
 Too many of them shifting, till the minutes wax low : 
 Long may your stay with us be, for of all of us sake, [go : 
 And your mind stayed up with Truth when your time comes to 
 
 I counsel you about this, somewhat study to make ; 
 
 And commend to you the books that John Ruskin has writ 
 And John Wiley sells to who would of Wisdom thirst slake. 
 
 They show us without pain the thought of death to admit, 
 Though our merchandize leaving, or the dealing in drachm ; 
 And how our goods unregrettingly to heirs transmit. 
 
 I bought them the other day, so poor although I am. 
 
 From the money you loaned ; having tasted them before ; 
 Commended by a youth that nigh disposed is to'cram 
 
208 
 
 Him with wisdom ; and pluming is, to Heaven to soar. 
 
 The fruit in the book, or wheat or our own corn the husk in 
 To keep it from blight or the frost or corruption hoar, 
 
 You will learn, as his Part the modern hero in buskin. 
 
CANTO III. 
 
 Inclined am I to linger a little in Wall Street, 
 
 And nigh until Old Trinity, or new, may strike tkree : 
 That set there, or serves I suppose, to mark limit meet 
 
 For the dealings of one day in Money to agree 
 With a restoration thereafter into good health ; 
 And men that are degenerate, become of the free. 
 
 All property, of whatever kind be it, is wealth. 
 
 And procurable with, and valued in, money's worth ; 
 Money a currency, and with prudence, or a stealth 
 
 In bargaining sometimes for some of us in the Earth, 
 Will procure any fruit we solicit, or may deem 
 Will shed a complacency upon barren or dearth, 
 
 In our heart or mind growing ; or soothe the self esteem ; 
 Or reverence propitiate from our poorer fellows, 
 May be failing of fortune and scant of merit seem. 
 
 Riches much set in the heart though, seem a kind of bellows 
 To rather blow and inflate in us, and swell the bladder 
 From the puny mean servant being, until it mellows 
 
210 
 
 One's courage to look at, from the bottom of the ladder ; 
 Where insignificantly most of us tug and sweat, 
 Until the brown of our toil seems dyed in us with madder. 
 
 Riches are a snare for us, till the wisdom we get 
 To look at them discreetly, and them even despise 
 But as means that we may employ to soothe our regret 
 
 For ills are surrounding us, to even dim the eyes 
 
 Of the good and the worthy, the virtuous and just. [dyes 
 
 Our Earth's life here is full chequered with the streaks and 
 
 Of sore griefs and pains, that will cling to us till they rust 
 Upon our once so glowing prospective ; and there darken 
 The lowering clouds round, till shaken even our trust 
 
 In the Providence, that ever ceaselessly doth carken 
 For the welfare of us all, and ministers to lead 
 In the true way of happiness whoever will hearken 
 
 To its monitions, so plain that he who runs may read. 
 I wot, discretion there needs for whoever would aid 
 In the charitable work to distress soothe and need, 
 
 And sorrow, and destitution, of whatever grade. 
 That do everywhere so disfigure the social sphere ; 
 But yet for the rich, yield would a profitable trade : 
 
211 
 
 Probing in their bosom, and its issues making clear : 
 The selfishness immingling there, it quickly transfuses 
 Into the translucent current suffering distils, 
 
 And a gentle and soothing complacency diffuses 
 
 Instead, replacing the perchance vacant thought or hour 
 With a pleasurable emotion ; that, as one uses 
 
 In his timely meditation, fraught may be with power 
 To shed a delight that richly paying the investment : 
 And punctually interest, however times lower : 
 
 And is the charity commended in either Testament. 
 
 But when we crowned with all plenty, and still only seek 
 A surplussage to add still, with a listing impressment. 
 
 And travail to procure it every day in the week. 
 
 And filled the heart and thoughts up with it even in church ; 
 It is just of the Evil one a device, to wreak 
 
 Each freak that he will on us, and put us in the lurch. 
 For who to care have not ever for the daily meal 
 Or the nightly bed, nor yet bent on the deep research 
 
 After wisdom, I counsel a sympathy to feel 
 
 For the erring degenerate and hapless mankind ; 
 For all ai^d each or^e of them ; and try if he may heal 
 
212 
 
 Their so sore wounds and bruises, and pry open the blind 
 Eyes, and the Light and Truth shed upon them from sunrise 
 Unto its setting, over the whole Earth ; and to bind 
 
 Up their wounds, and each running sore heal, else putrifies ; 
 Afflicting humanity in every land and clime. 
 On hill, mountain or plain, or shore by the river lies ; 
 
 To make it their business, and give to it their time ; 
 And thoughts too, to so gracious and noble enterprise ; 
 With the Providence, to enlist them, in the sublime 
 
 Undertaking, their fellows to lift up to the skies. 
 Oh ! wide is the field for it, and noble the endeavor 
 From degeneracy to lead the man to uprise 
 
 All the Earth over, and to all the rusted chains sever 
 Are fast holding him now, with a tight enclasping gripe. 
 Now, he not even wots what he is, and know he never 
 
 Will, if kind and wise Charity, in the bosom ripe 
 
 Of the many well knowing it, haste not with the light 
 That they seeing by, the darkened eyes to wash and wipe 
 
 All clean from the blind of wickedness, and teach to fight 
 It from their skirts are foully now dragging in its mire. 
 To be taught have they to spell, and to read, and to write 
 
.213 
 
 The Truth, with the pen, and in the life ; and to rise higher 
 
 Than the house top, or the steeple's, or the mountain cliffs ; 
 
 And than the flying cloud, or moon, or sun, to draw nigher 
 To Heaven's sanctuary, and to the Truth that lifts 
 
 Man up there, if to its high counsel he duly lists. 
 
 And all of his degeneracy out of him sifts ; 
 To the winds scattering it from out all of his grists. 
 
 To purge the Truth have we now here among us at home, 
 
 And on the benightened shed it, even to where wrists 
 Are so foully manacled, and men's savage eyes gloam 
 
 Over the victims that are slaves to their fellows made : 
 
 Africa's single product nigh, and not from the loam. 
 Who is rich, let him seek out the Truth, and in the shade 
 
 Of his declining years, the Truth found out then assist 
 
 To every where dispense through the avenues of trade. 
 And wherever of degeneracy cloud or mist ; 
 
 Festering its corruption, to the more spread and breed. 
 
 The whole world is to prepare yet for the Eucharist 
 To celebrate the salvation that was in our need 
 
 Ministered unto us, and showing the work and way . 
 
 We to do have and go in, with a diligent heed ; 
 
214 
 
 To point all men to Heaven ,- and the life to portray 
 That thither will take them all, athwart the miry path 
 Their degeneracy has made with its sticking clay, 
 
 And rocks of offence, and pits that bridged over with lath ; 
 And breeding swarms of vermin and reptiles in the clefts 
 Of all its inside garments, hatching there a loth wrath 
 
 That sweep away will the slippery faltering wefts 
 Of imaginings, cajole without Truth we be saved. 
 Our now Kobe of Righteousness has to have all its refts 
 
 Repaired here at home, and then be conqueringly braved 
 Perils and obstacles, the world to evangelize ; 
 And the seal have of Righteousness on its whole front graved. 
 
 Sown and harvested have been many fields of the wise 
 
 In scattering and thin groups throughout all of our years ; 
 But Time long has been waning, and advances the crise ; 
 
 Seed corn but wasted is, when every year the smut smears ; 
 To Truth have we return to make, or its shadow waning 
 Beneath the sun at meridian, nigh disappears. 
 
 Our Youth have we to teach all in the Truth, and by training 
 Them to it, cropping indulgence and showing the fruit 
 Is right and proper to pluck when Sun shining, or raining : 
 
215 
 
 And in particular cases give lessons may suit, 
 
 As they prominent in our own day and Generation, 
 Teaching to man even the discretion of the brute. 
 
 Truth, mean fundamental is, to work out our salvation, 
 And though it fraught in our nature, has now to be taught 
 By reason of degeneracy, to the whole nation. 
 
 In "Wall-Street, where daily so great values sold and bought, 
 Searched thoroughly is every matter that by us scanned, 
 On its face, and to the light the depths also are brought: 
 
 And in Wall-Street let the loving scheme also be planned 
 All the world from its wickedness to regenerate : 
 Its moral face in its roundness and wrinkles be scanned ; 
 
 The remedies to suit for every generic state 
 
 Let wisely be adjusted ; and faithful doctors sent 
 
 To t^ll of Love and Truth, and of th' heavenly estate ; 
 
 In simple and common words, and with much fervor blent, 
 And themselves setting the example in every case ; 
 And then acquitted our duty be, and the whole stent 
 
 Imposed on us by Truth, and by love for all our Race. 
 Oh ! Friends, such topic to treat of in the wont resort 
 Of Capitalists retired, would glow shed on the face,- 
 
216 
 
 And the breath deepen and lengthen, may be waxing short ; 
 And with much grace deck, would it, the waning strength and 
 
 days ; 
 And love and reverence from every heart would extort, 
 
 Perpetuating in memory your glowing praise. 
 
 And ye, who the Immortal too, why longer ye cling 
 To the worldly is perishing, and pause still to raise 
 
 All your hopes and thoughts heavenwards, upon the swift wing 
 Of Faith ; with all the strength your good deeds in you have 
 
 built : 
 Or else is to build yet, and with the close straightened string, 
 
 And time ; ere the blight of Death come on you, and you wilt. 
 Your Sun is low sinking now, and the long night is coming 
 When sink ye to sleep ; nor scrutiny then, any gilt 
 
 Avail to cover, as accurately your hope summing. 
 And your fund and resources to hold the high estate 
 Ye were born to ; and fairly, for none stand may there mum- 
 ming. 
 
 We pass for what we are, and we have made our own fate ; 
 And unchangeable is thence : or a farther perchance 
 Drill accorded, have to mourn us inconsiderate 
 
, 217 
 
 When we here were, in the more pleasant Earth's ch-emnstance: 
 And amazed then will be also, that we here were so blind, 
 Or so much could with exchange, talk and disco:int entrance . 
 
 Oh ! my Friends, let Truth and virtue engage your ripe mind ;, 
 Eeflect upon them, and their excellence, and commend 
 Them to who follow you, to your children, left behind 
 
 When ye go ; and counsel much on them with every friend, 
 And to stay in them, plead with him, whatever the cost. 
 From your lips let a wisdom kindly fall, and ye blend 
 
 With it much too your wise counsel and warning. The lost, 
 Lost are for heedlessness, ever still passing to worse 
 Day by day unconsciously, as we all of us tossed 
 
 By circumstance to and fro ; nor even the reverse 
 
 Straight plied for the wisdom and prudence wherewith it fraught. 
 The last practicable gain from error or reverse 
 
 Reap may the wicked or foolish from snatching at aught 
 Offers, and will gulp poison in thek eagerness down 
 If passingly it come, or low seemingly it bought. 
 
 Earth, Heaven ; Man, Angel ; of Immortality crown ; 
 
 Behold the changes or issues await, or at stake, 
 
 As wending our wayfare, in country, village, or town, 
 II 
 
^18 
 
 And weighing our fruits justly, or heedlessly partake : 
 We are born to an Immortal and blissful estate, 
 To be gods in the Heavens, when from" Death's sleep we wake. 
 
 If we will it to accept so illustrious Fate ; 
 
 And only needs that we learn the pure joys to enjoy, 
 And with them content us then, and not go on to sate. 
 
 And foolishly with the evil our pure joys alloy ; 
 Infusing its poison into the foam of our cup ; 
 And to purge it thereafter, much pains have to employ. 
 
 I counsel you, your aims and thoughts then, keep ye high up : 
 Be overflowing with love, for God, and for your fellow : 
 In yourselves gather you up, nor stoop to buck or tup 
 
 Against the beams and pricks worldly ; let your hearts all mellow 
 With sympathy, and ye kindly you yield to the strain 
 Of love in you ; all its fruits in your autumn be yellow 
 
 With ripeness ; full shock ye, of our golden autumn grain. 
 
ERRATA. 
 
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 '' 19 " 16, should have colon at end. 
 '' 71 " 5, "of" should be *Mf." 
 '* 89 " 9, ** a mistaken" should read " an erring.' 
 '* 144 " 6, " and" should read '' that." 
 " 144 "' 9, *' its" should read *' their." 
 '« 184 " 11,*' ought" should read*' aught." 
 " 184 '' 18, should have period at end. 
 " 194 '' 12, " lastby" should be 'Mast by." 
 " 202 «' 13, should have period at end. 
 «' 203 " 6, " of them" should read " da." 
 
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