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Read Ebook: A Williams Anthology A Collection of the Verse and Prose of Williams College 1798-1910 by Lehman Edwin P Edwin Partridge Compiler Park Julian Compiler
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Ebook has 370 lines and 57200 words, and 8 pages
A WILLIAMS ANTHOLOGY
A Collection of the Verse and Prose of Williams College
COMPILED BY
EDWIN PARTRIDGE LEHMAN JULIAN PARK
EDITORS OF THE LITERARY MONTHLY 1910
INTRODUCTION
The present work owes its existence to a conviction on the part of its editors that much material published by past Williams undergraduates in past and present literary periodicals of the college, deserves a resurrection from the threatening oblivion of musty library shelves. That this conviction has been justified by the quality of the verse and prose herein published, the editors believe; and they therefore submit this volume to the public without undue fear as to its reception, adding only the caution that its readers remember always the tender age of the writers of these pages.
The editors burrowed through all files of the college publications which the college library contains, files which are reasonably complete. In such a mass of material, some ninety volumes, it will be astounding indeed if some creditable work has not been passed inadvertently over. If such a mistake has occurred it is at least pardonable. The editors fear only the presence of some unworthy matter in this volume, a sin of commission and hence vastly more heinous.
An interesting light on the alteration in undergraduate problems that has gradually come about is furnished by a reading of Mr. Mabie's essay included herein. At the time of its production Mr. Mabie saw the need of a greater degree of organization among the students, in order that the college might thereby become more of a community. How directly opposed the present-day cry is! Student organization has to-day so spread and so wound itself about the very life of the college, that it threatens to hide the intellectual aims for which the college exists. The editors venture to express the opinion that, had Mr. Mabie written when they are writing, his essay would perhaps have had a different tone.
The college has indeed much to be proud of in its literature and journalism--for it has been enriched with names like Bryant, Prime, Franklin Carter, Mabie, Stoddard, Scudder, Alden, Gladden, G.L. Raymond, L.W. Spring, G. Stanley Hall, H.L. Nelson, G.E. MacLean, Cuthbert Hall, Isaac Henderson, Bliss Perry, F.J. Mather, Rollo Ogden: many of them are represented here; and we are glad for the college that their fame had its beginnings, even if often modest, in our student publications.
And now the editors have done their task. It has been pleasant work; may the results prove as pleasant to those before whose literary palates they are spread. It remains only to thank the alumni for their loyal financial support through the subscription blanks sent out in June, and the library staff of the college for the generosity with which more than the ordinary facilities of the library have been tendered.
THE EDITORS.
A WILLIAMS ANTHOLOGY
THE MOUNTAINS
WASHINGTON GLADDEN '59
O, proudly rise the monarchs of our mountain land, With their kingly forest robes, to the sky, Where Alma Mater dwelleth with her chosen band, Where the peaceful river floweth gently by.
ADDRESS OF THE STUDENTS OF WILLIAMS COLLEGE TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Sir,--Though members of an infant Institution and of little comparative weight in the scale of the Union, we feel for the interest of our country. It becomes every patriotic youth in whose breast there yet remains a single principle of honour, to come forward calmly, boldly, and rationally to defend his country. When we behold, Sir, a great and powerful nation exerting all its energy to undermine the vast fabrics of Religion and Government, when we behold them inculcating the disbelief of a Deity, of future rewards and punishments; when we behold them discarding every moral principle and dissolving every tie which connects men together in Society, which sweetens life and renders it worthy enjoying; when we behold them brutalizing man that they may govern him,--as friends to Humanity; as sharers in the happiness of our fellow-men, as Citizens of the world, our feelings are deeply affected. We commiserate the fate of our European Brethren; we weep over the awful calamities of anarchy and atheism.
But when we behold this Nation, not contented with its vast European dominions, but endeavouring to extend its Colossean empire across the Atlantic, every passion is roused; our souls are fired with indignation. We see that their object is universal domination; we see that nothing less than the whole world, nothing less than the universal degradation of man, will satisfy these merciless destroyers. But be assured, Sir, we will oppose them with all our youthful energy and risk our lives in defence of our country.
Untaught in the school of adulation, or the courts of sycophants, we speak forth the pure sentiments of Independence. We give you our warmest approbation. We behold with true patriotic pride the dignified conduct of our Chief Magistrate at this alarming crisis. We are highly pleased with the moderation, candor, and firmness which have uniformly characterized your administration. Though measures decisive and energetic will ever meet with censure from the unprincipled, the disaffected, and the factious, yet virtue must eternally triumph. It is this alone that can stand the test of calumny; and you have this consolation, that the disapprobation of the wicked is solid praise.
At this eventful period our eyes are fixed upon you, Sir, as our political Father, and under Providence we rely on your wisdom and patriotism, with the co-operation of our national Council, to perpetuate our prosperity; and we solemnly engage, that, while our Government is thus purely and virtuously administered, we will give it our whole Support.
These, Sir, are the unanimous sentiments of the Members of Williams College, who, though convinced of the evils of War, yet despise peace when put into competition with National Freedom and Sovereignty.
Signed by a Committee in behalf of one hundred and thirty Students of Williams College--
DAVID L. PERRY. SAMUEL COWLS. SOLOMON STRONG. SILAS HUBBELL.
WILLIAMS COLLEGE, June 19, 1798.
THE SWALLOW
From the Italian of T. Grossi by
WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT 1813
Swallow from beyond the sea! That, with every dawning day, Sitting on the balcony Utterest that plaintive lay! What is it that thou tellest me, Swallow from beyond the sea?
Haply thou, for him who went From thee and forgot his mate, Dost lament to my lament, Widowed, lonely, desolate. Ever then, lament with me, Swallow from beyond the sea!
Happier yet art thou than I,-- Thee thy trusty wings may bear, Over lake and cliff to fly, Filling with thy cries the air, Calling him continually, Swallow from beyond the sea!
Could I too!--but I must pine, In this dungeon close and low, Where the sun can never shine, Where the breeze can never blow, Whence my voice scarce reaches thee, Swallow from beyond the sea!
Now September days are near, Thou to distant lands will fly, In another hemisphere; Other streams shall hear thy cry, Other hills shall answer thee, Swallow from beyond the sea!
Then shall I when daylight glows, Waking to the sense of pain, 'Midst the wintry frosts and snows, Think I hear thy notes again-- Notes that seem to grieve for me, Swallow from beyond the sea!
Planted here upon the ground, Thou shalt find a cross in spring; There, as evening gathers 'round, Swallow, come and rest thy wing. Chant a strain of peace to me, Swallow from beyond the sea!
MARTIAL, BOOK X
EPIGRAM 23
WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT 1813
Oh fortunate Antonius! o'er whose head Calm days have flown and closed the sixtieth year, Back on this flight he looks and feels no dread To think that Lethe's waters flow so near. There is no day of all the train that gives A pang; no moment that he would forget. A good man's span is doubled; twice he lives Who, viewing his past life, enjoys it yet.
EXEGI MONUMENTUM
TO MELPOMENE
E.C. BENEDICT '21
I've a monument reared more enduring than brass, Which is higher than pyramids built by the kings, Through the rains and the tempests, unharmed, it shall pass, And the wear the corrosion of centuries brings. For, not all shall I die, but my greater part still Shall survive from the grave, and my fame shall increase Long as virgin and priest on the Capitol Hill Shall ascend to their altars in silence and peace. Where once Daunus of deserts and rustics was king, Where swift Aufidus roars, in my praise shall be told That, though humble in birth, I was foremost to bring Into Italy's songs the Greek music of old. Then, Melpomene, take to thyself all the pride Of the glory thy merits so justly declare, And now freely of Delphian laurel provide A fresh coronal wreath to encircle thy hair.
THE SCULPTOR TO HIS STATUE
JOHN J. INGALLS '55
"Thou silent, pallid dream, in marble stone! No rare, sweet phantasie which my divine And all unearthly-mingled soul has thrown Around a glowing form, art thou, where shine, As garlands wove about a kindled shrine, The beauties of a godlike art and more Etherial thought fashioned to high design, But a remembrance of that unknown shore Where youth and love eterne on spirit pinions soar.
"O'er the hushed vales and gulfy hills of Greece Night brooded on her darkly jewelled wing, Binding in drowsy chains of dewy peace Sweet birds, white flocks and every living thing, And lapsing streams which to the forest sing. Beneath that pillared fane which guards the place Where spirits twain sleep in the charmed ring, I slept after the banquet, and the rays Of a past heaven flashed on my soul's astonished gaze.
"The emerald isles that sail a silver sea, Caverned by plumy groves of sunny palm, Broke on my startled vision suddenly; When as but quickly parted, sweet and calm, That long forgot yet ever haunting psalm Floated from lips that flew to greet me home. A meteor flamed; I woke in rude alarm; Above me orbed the temple's sullen dome; Around me swam the early morning's starless gloom.
"Of that fair dream thou art the memory, My genius, in its wildest fancy, bound And petrified to immortality! A holy presence seems to hover round The deep, perpetual loveliness, as crowned With angel radiance, and plumed for flight, Thy pinioned sandals spurn the flowerless ground, Striving to gain that far Olympian height Towards which in rapturous awe upturns thy longing sight.
"Oh, shape divine! Such madd'ning grace must have A soul, a consciousness of love and life Though tombed in pallor, with no epitaph But silence! What mighty spell with power rife Can wake thee into Being's passion strife? Yet if there be such, let it rest unsought; For every boon thou couldst from breath derive I would not wrest from thee that higher lot, The need of deathlessness, thou pale, embodied thought!
"Great poet souls and people yet unborn Shall lay their speechless homage at thy feet, And still thy life be in its rosy dawn, Whose eve eternity alone shall greet. While I, to whom thy changeless smile were sweet As heaven, long mingled with earth's vilest mould, Shall be forgot! What wealth of fame can mete The loss of love? None, none! Thy fate is cold, But oh, what starry treasures might it not unfold!"
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