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How grateful am I for that patient care
All my life long my language shall declare。〃
To…day we make the poet's words our own
And utter them in plaintive undertone；
Nor to the living only be they said；
But to the other living called the dead；
Whose dear； paternal images appear
Not wrapped in gloom； but robed in sunshine here；
Whose simple lives； complete and without flaw；
Were part and parcel of great Nature's law；
Who said not to their Lord； as if afraid
〃Here is thy talent in a napkin laid；〃
But labored in their sphere； as men who live
In the delight that work alone can give。
Peace be to them； eternal peace and rest；
And the fulfilment of the great behest：
〃Ye have been faithful over a few things；
Over ten cities shall ye reign as kings。〃
And ye who fill the places we once filled；
And follow in the furrows that we tilled；
Young men； whose generous hearts are beating high；
We who are old； and are about to die；
Salute you； hail you； take your hands in ours；
And crown you with our welcome as with flowers！
How beautiful is youth！ how bright it gleams
With its illusions； aspirations； dreams！
Book of Beginnings； Story without End；
Each maid a heroine； and each man a friend！
Aladdin's Lamp； and Fortunatus' Purse；
That holds the treasures of the universe！
All possibilities are in its hands；
No danger daunts it； and no foe withstands；
In its sublime audacity of faith；
〃Be thou removed！〃 it to the mountain saith；
And with ambitious feet； secure and proud；
Ascends the ladder leaning on the cloud！
As ancient Priam at the Scaean gate
Sat on the walls of Troy in regal state
With the old men； too old and weak to fight；
Chirping like grasshoppers in their delight
To see the embattled hosts； with spear and shield；
Of Trojans and Achaians in the field；
So from the snowy summits of our years
We see you in the plain； as each appears；
And question of you； asking； 〃Who is he
That towers above the others？ Which may be
Atreides； Menelaus； Odysseus；
Ajax the great； or bold Idomeneus？〃
Let him not boast who puts his armor on
As he who puts it off； the battle done。
Study yourselves； and most of all note well
Wherein kind Nature meant you to excel。
Not every blossom ripens into fruit；
Minerva； the inventress of the flute；
Flung it aside； when she her face surveyed
Distorted in a fountain as she played；
The unlucky Marsyas found it； and his fate
Was one to make the bravest hesitate。
Write on your doors the saying wise and old；
〃Be bold！ be bold！〃 and everywhere〃Be bold；
Be not too bold！〃 Yet better the excess
Than the defect； better the more than less；
Better like Hector in the field to die；
Than like a perfumed Paris turn and fly；
And now； my classmates； ye remaining few
That number not the half of those we knew；
Ye； against whose familiar names not yet
The fatal asterisk of death is set；
Ye I salute！ The horologe of Time
Strikes the half…century with a solemn chime；
And summons us together once again；
The joy of meeting not unmixed with pain。
Where are the others？ Voices from the deep
Caverns of darkness answer me： 〃They sleep！〃
I name no names； instinctively I feel
Each at some well…remembered grave will kneel；
And from the inscription wipe the weeds and moss；
For every heart best knoweth its own loss。
I see their scattered gravestones gleaming white
Through the pale dusk of the impending night；
O'er all alike the impartial sunset throws
Its golden lilies mingled with the rose；
We give to each a tender thought； and pass
Out of the graveyards with their tangled grass；
Unto these scenes frequented by our feet
When we were young； and life was fresh and sweet。
What shall I say to you？ What can I say
Better than silence is？ When I survey
This throng of faces turned to meet my own；
Friendly and fair； and yet to me unknown；
Transformed the very landscape seems to be；
It is the same； yet not the same to me。
So many memories crowd upon my brain；
So many ghosts are in the wooded plain；
I fain would steal away； with noiseless tread；
As from a house where some one lieth dead。
I cannot go；I pause；I hesitate；
My feet reluctant linger at the gate；
As one who struggles in a troubled dream
To speak and cannot； to myself I seem。
Vanish the dream！ Vanish the idle fears！
Vanish the rolling mists of fifty years！
Whatever time or space may intervene；
I will not be a stranger in this scene。
Here every doubt； all indecision； ends；
Hail； my companions； comrades； classmates； friends！
Ah me！ the fifty years since last we met
Seem to me fifty folios bound and set
By Time； the great transcriber； on his shelves；
Wherein are written the histories of ourselves。
What tragedies； what comedies； are there；
What joy and grief； what rapture and despair！
What chronicles of triumph and defeat；
Of struggle； and temptation； and retreat！
What records of regrets； and doubts； and fears
What pages blotted； blistered by our tears！
What lovely landscapes on the margin shine；
What sweet； angelic faces； what divine
And holy images of love and trust；
Undimmed by age； unsoiled by damp or dust！
Whose hand shall dare to open and explore
These volumes； closed and clasped forevermore？
Not mine。 With reverential feet I pass；
I hear a voice that cries； 〃Alas！ alas！
Whatever hath been written shall remain；
Nor be erased nor written o'er again；
The unwritten only still belongs to thee：
Take heed； and ponder well what that shall be。〃
As children frightened by a thundercloud
Are reassured if some one reads aloud
A tale of wonder； with enchantment fraught；
Or wild adventure； that diverts their thought；
Let me endeavor with a tale to chase
The gathering shadows of the time and place；
And banish what we all too deeply feel
Wholly to say； or wholly to conceal。
In mediaeval Rome； I know not where；
There stood an image with its arm in air；
And on its lifted finger； shining clear；
A golden ring with the device； 〃Strike here！〃
Greatly the people wondered； though none guessed
The meaning that these words but half expressed；
Until a learned clerk； who at noonday
With downcast eyes was passing on his way；
Paused； and observed the spot； and marked it well；
Whereon the shadow of the finger fell；
And； coming back at midnight； delved； and found
A secret stairway leading under ground。
Down this he passed into a spacious hall；
Lit by a flaming jewel on the wall；
And opposite in threatening attitude
With bow and shaft a brazen statue stood。
Upon its forehead； like a coronet；
Were these mysterious words of menace set：
〃That which I am； I am； my fatal aim
None can escape； not even yon luminous flame！〃
Midway the hall was a fair table placed；
With cloth of gold； and golden cups enchased
With rubies； and the plates and knives were gold；
And gold the bread and viands manifold。
Around it； silent； motionless