A Wreath Of Virginia Bay Leaves Part 10

And, so, he ordered in those stormy hours His adamantine chains for one and all, Brute "Force" and soulless "Strength" the only Power On which he chose to call.

Great men withstood him many a weary day; In Press and Parliament full well they strove: But all in vain, for he was bound to play A travesty on Jove!

Then flamed the crater! And the flame took wing; Furious and far the lava blazed around, Until at last, on this same spot that King His Herculaneum found!

Breed's Hill became Vesuvius, and its stream Rushed forth through years, a G.o.d-directed tide To light two Worlds and realize the dream For which brave Warren died.

IV.

THE EMBATTLED COLONIES.

Before this thought the present hour recedes, As from the beach a billow backward rolls, And the great past, rich in heroic deeds Illuminates our souls!

Stern Ma.s.sachusetts Bay uplifts her form, Boston the tale of Lexington repeats, With breast unarmored she confronts the storm-- New England England meets.

I see the Middle Group by Fortune made The b.l.o.o.d.y Flanders of the Northern Coast, And, in a varying play of light and shade, Host thundering fall on host.

I see the Carolinas, Georgia, mowed By War the Reaper, and grim Ruin stalk O'er wasted fields;--but Guilford paved the way That led to this same York.

Here, too, Virginia in the vision comes-- Full-bent to crown the battle's closing arch, Her pulses trumpets and her heart throbs drums, To animate her march.

As Pocahontas, in a by-gone time, Leaped forth the wrath of Powhatan to brave, Virginia came, and here she stood sublime To perish, or to save.

I see her interposing now her frame Between her sisters and the alien bands, And taking both of Freedom and of Fame Full seisin with her hands.

V.

WELCOME TO FRANCE.

But, in that fiery zone She upriseth not alone, Over all the b.l.o.o.d.y fields Glitter Amazonian s.h.i.+elds; While through the mists of years Another form appears, And as I bow my head Already you have said:-- 'Tis France!

Welcome to France!

From sea to sea, With heart and hand!

Welcome to all within the land-- Thrice welcome let her be!

And to France The Union here to-day Gives the right of this array, And folds her to her breast As the friend that she loves best.

Yes to France.

The proud Ruler of the West Bows her sun-illumined crest, Grave and slow, In a pa.s.sion of fond memories of One hundred years ago!

France's colors wave again High above this tented plain, Stream and flaunt, and blaze and s.h.i.+ne, O'er the banner-painted brine, Float and flow!

And the brazen trumpets blow While upon her serried lines, Full the light of Freedom s.h.i.+nes In a broad, effulgent glow.

And here this day I see The fairest dream that ever yet Was dreamt by History!

As in cadence, and in time, To the martial throb and rhyme Of her bugles and her drums Forth a stately vision comes-- Comes majestically slow-- Comes a fair and stately vision of One hundred years ago!

Welcome to France!

From sea to sea, With heart and hand!

Welcome to all within the land!

Thrice welcome let her be!

Of Freedom's Guild made free!

Welcome!

Thrice Welcome!

Welcome let her be!

And as in days of old Walter Raleigh did unfold His gay cloak, with all its hems Wrought in braided gold and gems, That his Queen might pa.s.sing tread On the sumptuous cloth outspread, And step on the s.h.i.+ning fold Or fair samnite rich in gold.

So for France-- Splendid, grand, majestic France!-- May Fortune down _her_ mantle throw To mend the way that _she_ may go!

May GLORY leap before to reap-- Up to the shoulders turned her sleeves-- And FAME behind follow to bind Unnumbered honors in unnumbered sheaves!

And may that mantle forever be Under thy footfall, oh France the Free!

Forever and forever!

VI.

THE ALLIES AT YORKTOWN.

And here France came one hundred years ago!

Red, russet, purple glowed upon the trees, And sunset glories deepened in their glow Along the painted seas.

A wealth of color blazed on land and wave, Topaz and gold, and crimson met the eye-- October hailed the s.h.i.+ps which came to save With banners in the sky.

DeBarras swept down from the Northern coast, DeGra.s.se, foam-driving, came with favoring breeze, And here surprised the proud, marauding host Like spectres of the seas.

Then was no time for such a boastful strain As Campbell sang o'er Baltic's b.l.o.o.d.y tide, Nor did Britannia dominate the main In customary pride.

France closed this river, and France ruled yon sea, Held all our waters in triumphant state, Her sails foretelling what was soon to be Like Ministers of Fate.

And when the Union chants her proudest Lay DeGra.s.se is often on her tuneful lips, And his achievement challenges to-day Some Homer of the s.h.i.+ps.

So, when this spot its monument shall crown His name upon its base two Worlds shall see, With a fair wind his story shall sail down Through Ages yet to be,

VII.

THE RAVAGES OF WAR.

This on the water: on the land a scene Whose Epic scope is far beyond my power, For on this spot a People's fate hath been Decided in an hour.

Long was the conflict waged through weary years Counted from when the st.u.r.dy farmers fell: Hopes crucified, red trenches, bitter tears, Made Man another h.e.l.l!

See pallid women girt in woe and weeds!

See little children gaunt for lack of food!

Behold the catalogue of War's black deeds Where evil stands for good!

See slaughtered cattle, never more to roam, Rot in the fields, while chimneys tall and bare Tell in dumb pathos how some quiet home Lit up the midnight air!