The Spirit of Life, a Poem: Pronounced Before the Franklin Society of Brown University, September 3, 1833

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Key and Biddle, 1833 - 71 pages
 

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Page 58 - With life all other passions fly — All others are but vanity. In heaven ambition cannot dwell, Nor avarice in the vaults of hell ; Earthly these passions of the earth, They perish where they have their birth.
Page 39 - While yet thy hand the ephemeral wreath is holding, Come, — and secure interminable rest ! • Soon will the freshness of thy days be over, And thy free buoyancy of soul be flown ; Pleasure will fold her wing, and friend and lover Will to the...
Page 58 - They sin who tell us Love can die, With life all other passions fly, All others are but vanity. In Heaven Ambition cannot dwell, Nor Avarice in the vaults of Hell ; Earthly these passions of the Earth, They perish where they have their birth ; But Love is indestructible. Its holy flame for ever burneth, From Heaven it came, to Heaven returneth...
Page 70 - The ruffled lake heav'd wildly — near the shore It bore the red leaves of the shaken tree — Shed in the violent north wind's restless roar, Emblems of man upon life's stormy sea ! Pale autumn leaves ! once to the breezes free They waved in Spring and Summer's golden prime — Now, even as clouds or dew, how fast they flee — Weak, changing like the flowers in...
Page 58 - THERE is a voice I shall hear no more : There are tones whose music for me is o'er; Sweet as the odours of spring were they — Precious and rich — but they died away : They came like peace to my heart and ear — Never again will they murmur here : They have gone, like the blush of a summer morn — Like a crimson cloud, through the sunset borne.
Page 59 - Wo for the cheek that hath ceased to bloom — For the lips that are dumb in the noisome tomb ; Their melody broken, their fragrance gone — Their aspect cold as the Parian stone: Alas, for the hopes that with thee have died...
Page 63 - That cheered the good of old ; To clasp the faith which looks on high, Which fires the Christian's dying eye, And makes the curtain-fold That falls upon his wasting breast, The door that leads to endless rest. It were not lonely thus to lie On that triumphant bed, Till the pure spirit mounts on high, By white- winged seraphs led : Where glories earth may never know, O'er " many mansions" lingering glow, In peerless lustre shed ; It were not lonely thus to soar.
Page 40 - Come, while the morning of thy life is glowing, Ere the dim phantoms thou art chasing die ; Ere the gay spell which earth is round thee throwing Fades, like the crimson from a sunset sky ; Life hath but shadows, save a promise given, "Which lights the future with a fadeless ray ; O, touch the sceptre ! — win a hope in Heaven. Come, turn thy spirit from the world away...
Page 53 - The fair in form — the pure — the gentle hearted, Whose looks within the breast a Sabbath made ; How like a whisper on the inconstant wind, The memory of their voices stirs the mind! We hear the sigh, the song, the fitful laughter That from their lips, in balm, were wont to flow, When hope's beguiling wings they hurried after, And drank her siren music long ago ; While joy's bright harp to sweetest lays was strung And poured rich numbers for the loved and young ! When the...
Page 69 - Twas a bright vision, but too soon to die ! Spring may not linger in her robes of green — Autumn, in storm and shade shall quench the summer sheen. I came again. 'Twas Autumn's stormy hour — The wild winds murmured in the faded wood; The sere leaves, rustling in the...

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