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1879； this Chair； made from the Wood of the Village Blacksmith's
Chestnut Tree。
Am I a king； that I should call my own
This splendid ebon throne？
Or by what reason； or what right divine；
Can I proclaim it mine？
Only； perhaps； by right divine of song
It may to me belong；
Only because the spreading chestnut tree
Of old was sung by me。
Well I remember it in all its prime；
When in the summer…time
The affluent foliage of its branches made
A cavern of cool shade。
There； by the blacksmith's forge； beside the street；
Its blossoms white and sweet
Enticed the bees； until it seemed alive；
And murmured like a hive。
And when the winds of autumn； with a shout；
Tossed its great arms about；
The shining chestnuts； bursting from the sheath；
Dropped to the ground beneath。
And now some fragments of its branches bare；
Shaped as a stately chair；
Have by my hearthstone found a home at last；
And whisper of the past。
The Danish king could not in all his pride
Repel the ocean tide；
But； seated in this chair； I can in rhyme
Roll back the tide of Time。
I see again； as one in vision sees；
The blossoms and the bees；
And hear the children's voices shout and call；
And the brown chestnuts fall。
I see the smithy with its fires aglow；
I hear the bellows blow；
And the shrill hammers on the anvil beat
The iron white with heat！
And thus； dear children； have ye made for me
This day a jubilee；
And to my more than three…score years and ten
Brought back my youth again。
The heart hath its own memory； like the mind；
And in it are enshrined
The precious keepsakes； into which is wrought
The giver's loving thought。
Only your love and your remembrance could
Give life to this dead wood；
And make these branches； leafless now so long；
Blossom again in song。
JUGURTHA
How cold are thy baths； Apollo！
Cried the African monarch； the splendid；
As down to his death in the hollow
Dark dungeons of Rome he descended；
Uncrowned； unthroned； unattended；
How cold are thy baths； Apollo！
How cold are thy baths； Apollo！
Cried the Poet； unknown； unbefriended；
As the vision； that lured him to follow；
With the mist and the darkness blended；
And the dream of his life was ended；
How cold are thy baths； Apollo！
THE IRON PEN
Made from a fetter of Bonnivard； the Prisoner of Chillon； the
handle of wood from the Frigate Constitution； and bound with a
circlet of gold； inset with three precious stones from Siberia；
Ceylon； and Maine。
I thought this Pen would arise
From the casket where it lies
Of itself would arise and write
My thanks and my surprise。
When you gave it me under the pines；
I dreamed these gems from the mines
Of Siberia； Ceylon； and Maine
Would glimmer as thoughts in the lines；
That this iron link from the chain
Of Bonnivard might retain
Some verse of the Poet who sang
Of the prisoner and his pain；
That this wood from the frigate's mast
Might write me a rhyme at last；
As it used to write on the sky
The song of the sea and the blast。
But motionless as I wait；
Like a Bishop lying in state
Lies the Pen； with its mitre of gold；
And its jewels inviolate。
Then must I speak； and say
That the light of that summer day
In the garden under the pines
Shall not fade and pass away。
I shall see you standing there；
Caressed by the fragrant air；
With the shadow on your face；
And the sunshine on your hair。
I shall hear the sweet low tone
Of a voice before unknown；
Saying； 〃This is from me to you
From me； and to you alone。〃
And in words not idle and vain
I shall answer and thank you again
For the gift； and the grace of the gift；
O beautiful Helen of Maine！
And forever this gift will be
As a blessing from you to me；
As a drop of the dew of your youth
On the leaves of an aged tree。
ROBERT BURNS
I see amid the fields of Ayr
A ploughman； who； in foul and fair；
Sings at his task
So clear； we know not if it is
The laverock's song we hear； or his；
Nor care to ask。
For him the ploughing of those fields
A more ethereal harvest yields
Than sheaves of grain；
Songs flush with Purple bloom the rye；
The plover's call； the curlew's cry；
Sing in his brain。
Touched by his hand； the wayside weed
Becomes a flower； the lowliest reed
Beside the stream
Is clothed with beauty； gorse and grass
And heather； where his footsteps pass；
The brighter seem。
He sings of love； whose flame illumes
The darkness of lone cottage rooms；
He feels the force；
The treacherous undertow and stress
Of wayward passions； and no less
The keen remorse。
At moments； wrestling with his fate；
His voice is harsh； but not with hate；
The brushwood； hung
Above the tavern door； lets fall
Its bitter leaf； its drop of gall
Upon his tongue。
But still the music of his song
Rises o'er all elate and strong；
Its master…chords
Are Manhood； Freedom； Brotherhood；
Its discords but an interlude
Between the words。
And then to die so young and leave
Unfinished what he might achieve！
Yet better sure
Is this； than wandering up and down
An old man in a country town；
Infirm and poor。
For now he haunts his native land
As an immortal youth； his hand
Guides every plough；
He sits beside each ingle…nook；
His voice is in each rushing brook；
Each rustling bough。
His presence haunts this room to…night；
A form of mingled mist and light
From that far coast。
Welcome beneath this roof of mine！
Welcome！ this vacant chair is thine；
Dear guest and ghost！
HELEN OF TYRE
What phantom is this that appears
Through the purple mist of the years；
Itself but a mist like these？
A woman of cloud and of fire；
It is she； it is Helen of Tyre；
The town in the midst of the seas。
O Tyre！ in thy crowded streets
The phantom appears and retreats；
And the Israelites that sell
Thy lilies and lions of brass；
Look up as they see her pass；
And murmur 〃Jezebel！〃
Then another phantom is seen
At her side； in a gray gabardine；
With beard that floats to his waist；
It is Simon Magus； the Seer；
He speaks； and she pauses to hear
The words he utters in haste。
He says： 〃From this evil fame；
From this life of sorrow and shame；
I will lift thee and make thee mine；
Thou hast been Queen Candace；
And Helen of Troy； and shalt be
The Intelligence Divine！〃
Oh； sweet as the breath of morn；
To the fallen and forlorn
Are whispered words of praise；
For the famished heart believes
The falsehood that