THE TEST (Musa loquitur.) I HUNG my verses in the wind, Five were smelted in a pot Than the South more fierce and hot; These the siroc could not melt, Fire their fiercer flaming felt, And the meaning was more white SOLUTION I am the Muse who sung alway On spawning slime my song prevails, Wolves shed their fangs, and dragons scales; Flown to Italy from Greece, Unlock doors of new delight; And sometimes mankind I appalled With a bitter horoscope, With spasms of terror for balm of hope. Then by better thought I lead Bards to speak what nations need; So I folded me in fears, And DANTE searched the triple spheres, So shaped, so colored, swift or still, 2 Seethed in mists of Penmanmaur, Taught by Plinlimmon's Druid power, England's genius filled all measure Of heart and soul, of strength and pleasure, Gave to the mind its emperor, And life was larger than before: Nor sequent centuries could hit Orbit and sum of SHAKSPEARE'S wit. Far in the North, where polar night Holds in check the frolic light, In trance upborne past mortal goal The Swede EMANUEL leads the soul. Through snows above, mines underground, The inks of Erebus he found; Rehearsed to men the damnèd wails On which the seraph music sails. In spirit-worlds he trod alone, But walked the earth unmarked, unknown. In newer days of war and trade, So bloom the unfading petals five, HYMN SUNG AT THE SECOND CHURCH, AT THE ORDINATION OF REV. CHANDLER ROBBINS WE love the venerable house Our fathers built to God; In heaven are kept their grateful vows, Their dust endears the sod. 224 HYMN Here holy thoughts a light have shed And prayers of humble virtue made And anxious hearts have pondered here And prayed the eternal Light to clear From humble tenements around For faith and peace and mighty love They live with God; their homes are dust; On him who by the altar stands, On him thy blessing fall, Speak through his lips thy pure commands, |