: 'Vf^-^ ^:k^ :^^.:k '•.-y.7^-' >''?f*^ ■'/^r:.'^:. ■■-V ., * ■* ^ l*). ■ -ffk-'- ■4, , ^^X Jtifaca, S^eui ^otb THE GIFT OF C. H. Hull. Cornell University Library PS 2986.C3 1889 The centennial ode :the memorial freedom 3 1924 022 187 441 The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/cletails/cu31924022187441 TS HEs M 7 Bayai^ Taylor^ "g r%ENTENNfAL is) D Q^ B/TY/IHp T/IYLi0I\ /Zi USTRA TED. Chicago, New York, and Sax Francisco: BELFORD, CLARKE AND COMPANY, 1889. Copyright, 1876, by WILLIAM F. GILL & CO. PUBLISHERS' PREFACE. Ba)'ard Taylor's Centennial Poem is the only work of tlie kind by a great American poet, designed especiall}- as a Meiiiorial Ode to be used for all time upon all occasions celebrating national events in our American history. Originally deli\'ered by the author in commemoration of the Declaration of American Independence, there has hitherto been lacking an adequate occa- sion for its presentation to the public at a fitting and favorable time. The Centennial of the Inauguration of General George Washing- ton as President of the United States enables the publishers to offer Mr. Taylor's great national poem, as a popular souvenir of this memorable anniversary, in a form suitable for permanent preserva- tion. \^The engravings are by John Andrew .& Son, A. Bobbett, John P. Davis, J. L. Langridoe, J. T. Speer, John Filmer, F. Juengling, and Russell & Richardson.] Liberty's Latest Daughter The National Ode . . . Vignette Vignettes to Note . . . Vignette Head-piece to Illustrations Half-title to Poem . . . , America, Europe, and Asia Vignette Head-piece I ARTIST. PAGE Mary A. Hallock . . Front. L, S. Ipsen Title. Robert Lewis .... Tille. 5 6 7 L. S. Ipsen II Alfred Fredericks ... 13 Robert Lewis 14 L. S. Ipsen 15 The Clefts of the Rocks [Half-title to Verse First Vignette " And over the severing ocean " . . "And the peace of the vesper skies" " In the crash of woods that fall " " When the lines of battle broke, We saw her face in the iiery smoke " A. R. Waud 15 Robert Lewis 16 T. Moran 17 18 19 Alfred Fredericks ... 20 Illusti-atio}is. ARTIST. PAGE Head-piece II L. S. Ipsen 21 P^%'i\jKiM.ov^-a {I-Jalf-titU to Verse Second) P^. R. Waud 21 Vignette Robert Lewis 22 "A large divinely-moulded Fate Questions the rights and purposes of a State " Alfred Fredericks ... 23 " From all unchronicled and silent ages " F. Lancelot 24 " Till history dared, at last, To write eternal words on granite pages " Alfred Fredericks ... 25 " Imperial heads, in ghostly grandeur rise, And sa)', through stony lips and vacant eyes" " " ... 26 Head-itece III L. S. Ipsen 27 The River - Head (Half-title to Verse Third) A. R. Waud 27 Vignette ...'.. Robert Lewis 28 " On the shores of a continent cast " . T. Moran 29 " She planted homes on the savage sod " " 30 " She drove her plowshare deep " . . Alfred Fredericks ... 30 " Where the flushed Sierra, snowy-starred. Her way to the sunset barred" . . . T. Moran 31 "Where the haunted waves of Asia die On the strand of the world-wide sea " Alfred Fredericks ... 32 Head-piece IV L. S. Ipsen 33 As over Earth the Skies {Half-title to Verse Fourth) A. R. Waud 33 Vignette Robert Lewis 34 "The race, in conquering, Some fierce Titanic joy of conquest knows " " " 35 The Shield of Liberty (Tail-piece) . . " " 36 Head-piece V L. S. Ipsen 37 The Chosen of her Seed {Half-title to Verse Fifth) A. R. Waud 37 illustrations. ARTIS PAGE Vignette Robert Lewis 38 " Foretold when the mart)'rs bled " . . Alfred Fredericks ... 39 "As the sea returns the rivers in rain" E. Wimperis 40 " As e'er went worldward from the island wall " T. MoRAN 41 Vignette Robert Lewis 42 Head-piece VI L. S. Ipsen 43 Bow TO the Greater (Half-title to Verse Sixth) A. R, Waud 43 Vignette Robert Lewis 44 " O'er peril conquered and strife subdued" " " 45 " He faileth not to smite The idle ownership of right "... Alfred Fredericks ... 46 Head-piece VH L. S. Ipsen 47 Beside these Holy Walls (Half-title to Verse Seventh) A. R. Waud 47 Vignette Robert Lewis 48 Liberty as Justice, " When for a captive race She grandly staked and won" . . Alfred Fredericks ... 49 "The people saw her head, And shouted to the world : 'The King is dead!'" Robert Lewis 51 Vignette " " 52 Head-piece VIII L. S. Ipsen 53 The Pantheon of the Past (Half-title to Verse Eighth) A. R. Waud 53 Vignette Robert Lewis 54 " Arise, recrown thy head, Radiant with blessings of the dead" . Alfred Fredericks ... 55 " Beside clear-hearted right. That smiles at Power's uplifted rod " " " ■ • • ?7 Vignette 58 9 IlliLstrations. ARTIST. Head-piece IX L. S. Ipsen . The Brinks of Danger {Half-title to Verse Ninth) A. R. Waud . Vignette Robert Lewis PAGE • 59 59 60 " And dim the ej'esight grew That was so sure in thine old solitudes" T. MoRAN 61 Head-piece X L. S. Ipsen . But Fair as Morning (Half-title to I'eise Tenth) A. R. Waud . Vignette Robert Lewis "Wearing thy priestly tiar on Judah's hills " T. MoRAN . . "Or from Rome's central seat" ... " . . " No more a Chieftainess with wampum- zone, And feather-cinctured brow". . . A. R. Waud. Tail-piece Robert Lewis . . . Head-piece XI L. S. Ipsen .... The Oak and the Rose {Half-title to Verse Eleventh) A. R. Waud .... Vignette Robert Lewis . . . "Look up, look forth, and on '' . . . Alfred Fredericks . "There's light in the dawning sky" . T. Moran "But keep thy garments pure, Pluck them back with the old disdain" Mary A. Hallock 63 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 69 70 71 72 73 Vignette (Emblem of Peace) Robert Lewis 74 On the shores of a Continent cast, She won the inviolate soil By loss of heirdom of all the Past, And faith in the royal right of Toil ! She planted homes on the savage sod : Into the wilderness lone She walked with fearless feet, In her hand the divining-rod, Till the veins of the mountains beat With fire of metal and force of stone ! The Ahxtiojial Ode. She set the speed of the river-head To turn the mills of her bread ; She drove her plowshare deep Through the prairie's thousand-centuried sleep; The Natio7ial Ode. To the South, and West, and North, She called Pathfinder forth, Her faithful and sole companion. Where the flushed Sierra, snowy-starred. -^'' And the nameless rivers in thunder and foam Channeled the terrible canyon ! The National Ode. Nor paused, till her uttermost home Was built, in the smile of a softer sky And the glory of beauty still to be, Where the haunted waves of Asia die On the strand of the world-wide sea ! (.r-- ^ -^^ ^^ j£^^^= AS OVER EARTH THE SAVES. WW^^ ~m 33 S4 The race, in conquering, Some fierce Titanic joy of conquest knows : Wlietlaer in veins of serf or king-, Our ancient blood beats restless in repose. Challenge of Nature unsubdued Awaits not Man's defiant answer long ; For hardship, even as wrong, Provokes the level-eyed, heroic mood. This for herself she did ; but that which lies. As over earth the skies. The ATational Ode. Blending all forms in one benignant glow, — Crowned conscience, tender care, Justice, that answers every bondman's pra^-er. Freedom where faith may lead or Thought may dare. The power of minds that know, Passion of hearts that feel, Purchased b}' blood and woe, Guarded by fire and steel, — Hath she secured ? What blazon on her shield, In the clear Centur3''s light Shines to the world revealed, Declaring nobler triumph, born of Right ? t. THE CHOSEN OF HER SEED. m^^-^^ 37 Foreseen in the vision of sages, Foretold when martyrs bled, She was born of the longing of ages, By the truth of the noble dead And the faith of the living fed ! No blood in her lightest veins Frets at remembered chains. Nor shame of bondage has bowed her head. The National Ode. In her form and features still The unblenching Puritan will, Cavalier honor, Huguenot grace. The Quaker truth and sweetness. And the strength of the danger-girdled race Of Holland, blend in a proud completeness. From the homes of all, where her being began, She took what she gave to Man : Justice, that knew no station. Belief, as soul decreed. Free air for aspiration, Free force for independent deed ! She takes, but to give again, As the sea returns the rivers in rain ; And gathers the chosen of her seed From the hunted of every crown and creed. Her Germany dwells by a gentler Rhine ; Her Ireland sees the old sunburst shine ; Her France pursues some dream divine ; The National Ode. --""^ Her Norway keeps his mountain pine ; Her Italy waits by the western brine ; And, broad-based under all, Is planted England's oaken-hearted mood, The National Ode. As rich in fortitude As e'er went worldward from the island-wall ! Fused in her candid light, To one strong race all races here unite : Tongues melt in hers, hereditary foemen Forget their sword and slogan, kith and clan ; 'Twas glory, once, to be a Roman ; She makes it glory, now, to be a Man ! 1«. Bow down ! Doff thine asonian crown ! One hour forget The glory, and recall the debt : Make expiation, Of humbler mood. For the pride of thine exultation O'er peril conquered and strife subdued ! But half the right is wrested When victory yields her prize, And half the marrow tested When old endurance dies. In the sight of them that love thee, Bow to the Greater above thee ! He faileth not to smite, The idle ownership of Right, The National Ode. , - ^v - ' * ■ « . Nor spares to sinews fresh from trial And virtue schooled in long denial, The tests that wait for thee In larger perils of prosperity. Here, at the Century's awful shrine, Bow to thy Fathers' God — and thine ! 46 % ■JA.lhtt/i Behold ! she bendeth now, Humbling the chaplet of her hundred years : There is a solemn sweetness on her brow, The National Ode. And in her eyes are sacred tears. Can she forget, In present joy, the burden of her debt, When for a captive race She grandly staked and won The total promise of her power begun, And bared her bosom's grace To the sharp wound that inl}^ tortures yet ? Can she forget The million graves her 3'oung devotion set, The hands that clasp above From either side, in sad, returning love ? Can she forget, Here, where the Ruler of to-day. The Citizen of to-morrow. And equal thousands to rejoice and pray Beside these holy walls are met. Her birth-cry, mixed of keenest bliss and sorrow ? Where, on July's immortal morn Held forth, the People saw her head 50 The National Ode. And shouted to the world : " The King is dead, But lo ! the Heir is born ! " When fire of Youth, and sober trust of Age, In Farmer, Soldier, Priest, and Sage, Arose and cast upon her Baptismal garments, — never robes so fair Clad prince in Old-world air, — Their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor ! 'I'ifJi 53 Arise ! Recrown thy head, Radiant with blessing of the Dead ! 5S The Natio7ial Ode. Bear from this hallowed place The prayer that purifies thy lips, The light of courage that defies eclipse, The rose of Man's new morning on thy face ! Let no iconoclast Invade thy rising Pantheon of the Past, To make a blank where Adams stood. To touch the Father's sheathed and sacred blade, Spoil crowns on Jefferson and Franklin laid, Or wash from Freedom's feet the stain of Lincoln's blood ! Hearken, as from that haunted hall Their voices call : " We lived and died for thee : We greatly dared that thou might'st be ; So, from thy children still We claim denials which at last fulfill, And freedom yielded to preserve thee free ! Beside clear-hearted Right That smiles at Power's uplifted rod, 56 The National Ode. Plant Duties that requite, And Order that sustains, upon thy sod. And stand in stainless might Above all self, and only less than God ! " '!. ^ Here may thy solemn challenge end, All-proving Past, and each discordance die ^^-A-* Of doubtful augury, Or in one choral with the Present blend, The National Ode. And that half-heard, sweet harmony Of something nobler that our sons may see ! Though poignant memories burn Of days that were, and may again return, When thy fleet foot, O Huntress of the Woods, The slippery brinks of danger knew, And dim the eyesight grew That was so sure in thine old solitudes, — Yet stays some richer sense Won from the mixture of thine elements, To guide the vagrant scheme, And winnow truth from each conflicting dream ! Yet in thy blood shall live Some force unspent, some essence primitive, To seize the highest use of things ; For Fate, to mold thee to her plan, Denied thee food of kings. Withheld the udder and the orchard-fruits. Fed thee with savage roots, And forced thy harsher milk from barren breasts of man ! \ II ' — ^~^ s/ \lj FA/R AS MORNIIfG. W "W^ 6l O SACRED Woman-Form, Of the first people's need and passion wrought,- No thin, pale ghost of Thought, But fair as Morning and as heart's-blood warm,- Wearing thy priestly tiar on Judah's hills ; Clear-eyed beneath Athene's helm of gold ; Or from Rome's central seat Hearing the pulses of the Continents beat 65 The National Ode. In thunder where her legions rolled ; Compact of high heroic hearts and wills, Whose being circles all The selfless aims of men, and all fulfills ; Thyself not free, so long as one is thrall ; Goddess, that as a Nation lives, And as a Nation dies, That for her children as a man defies. And to her children as a mother gives, — Take our fresh fealty now ! 66 The National Ode. No more a Chieftainess, with wampum-zone And feather-cinctured brow, — No more a new Britannia, grown To spread an equal banner to the breeze, 67 The ATational Ode. And lift thy trident o'er the double seas ; But with unborrowed crest, In thine own native beauty dressed, — The front of pure command, the unflinching eye, thine own ! =&^S5 t^^f' * THE OAK AND THE ROSE. "^■^ "m^ Look up, look forth, and on! There's light in the dawning sky: The clouds are parting, the night is gone ; The National Ode. Prepare for the work of the day ! Fallow thy pastures lie And far thy shepherds stray, And the fields of thy vast domain X Are waiting for purer seed Of knowledge, desire, and deed, For keener sunshine and mellower rain ! But keep thy garments pure : Pluck them back, with the old disdain. From touch of the hands that stain ! The National Ode. So shall thy strength endure. Transmute into good the gold of Gain, Compel to beauty thy ruder powers, The National Ode. Till the bounty of coming hours Shall plant, on thy fields apart, With the oak of Toil, the rose of Art ! Be watchful, and keep us so : Be strong, and fear no foe : Be just, and the world shall know ! With the same love love us, as we give ; And the day shall never come, That finds us weak or dumb To join and smite and cry In the great task, for thee to die. And the greater task, for thee to live. "-^•■r ;.'> ■ntr^""*' / . : r .^ ■^^^,7