APPENDIX.
177
“REVERENCE.”
| “As an ancestral heritage revere |
| All learning, and all thought. The painter's fame |
| Is thine, whate'er thy lot, who honorest grace. |
| And need enough in this low time, when they, |
| Who seek to captivate the fleeting notes |
| Of heaven's sweet beauty, must despair almost, |
| So heavy and obdurate show the hearts |
| Of their companions. Honor kindly then |
| Those who bear up in their so generous arms |
| The beautiful ideas of matchless forms; |
| For were these not portrayed, our human fate, — |
| Which is to be all high, majestical, |
| To grow to goodness with each coming age, |
| Till virtue leap and sing for joy to see |
| So noble, virtuous men, — would brief decay; |
| And the green, festering slime, oblivious, haunt |
| About our common fate. Oh honor them! |
| But what to all true eyes has chiefest charm, |
| And what to every breast where beats a heart |
| Framed to one beautiful emotion,—to |
| One sweet and natural feeling, lends a grace |
| To all the tedious walks of common life, |
| This is fair woman,—woman, whose applause |
| Each poet sings,—woman the beautiful. |
| Not that her fairest brow, or gentlest form |
| Charm us to tears; not that the smoothest check, |
| Where ever rosy tints have made their home, |
| So rivet us on her; but that she is |
| The subtle, delicate grace,—the inward grace, |
| For words too excellent; the noble, true, |
| The majesty of earth; the summer queen; |
| In whose conceptions nothing but what's great |
| Has any right. And, O! her love for him, |
| Who does but his small part in honoring her; |
| Discharging a sweet office, sweeter none, |
| Mother and child, friend, counsel and repose;— |
| Nought matches with her, nought has leave with her |
| To highest human praise. Farewell to him |
| Who reverences not with an excess |
| Of faith the beauteous sex; all barren he |
| Shall live a living death of mockery. |
