Part 34 (1/2)
The glory of our life below Comes not from what we do, or what we know, But dwells forevermore in what we are.
There is an architecture grander far Than all the fortresses of war, More inextinguishably bright Than learning's lonely towers of light.
Framing its walls of faith and hope and love In souls of men, it lifts above The frailty of our earthly home An everlasting dome; The sanctuary of the human host, The living temple of the Holy Ghost.
XI
If music led the builders long ago, When Arthur planned the halls of Camelot, And made the royal city grow, Fair as a flower in that forsaken spot; What sweeter music shall we bring, To weave a harmony divine Of prayer and holy thought Into the labours of this loftier shrine, This consecrated hill, Where through so many a year Our Alma Mater's hand hath wrought, With toil serene and still, And heavenly hope, to rear Eternal dwellings for the Only King?
Here let no martial trumpets blow, Nor instruments of pride proclaim The loud exultant notes of fame!
But let the chords be clear and low, And let the anthem deeper grow, And let it move more solemnly and slow; For only such an ode Can seal the harmony Of that deep masonry Wherein the soul of man is framed for G.o.d's abode.
XII
O Thou whose boundless love bestows The joy of earth, the hope of Heaven, And whose unchartered mercy flows O'er all the blessings Thou hast given; Thou by whose light alone we see; And by whose truth our souls set free Are made imperishably strong; Hear Thou the solemn music of our song.
Grant us the knowledge that we need To solve the questions of the mind, And light our candle while we read, To keep our hearts from going blind; Enlarge our vision to behold The wonders Thou hast wrought of old; Reveal thyself in every law, And gild the towers of truth with holy awe.
Be Thou our strength if war's wild gust Shall rage around us, loud and fierce; Confirm our souls and let our trust Be like a s.h.i.+eld that none can pierce; Renew the courage that prevails, The steady faith that never fails, And make us stand in every fight Firm as a fortress to defend the right.
O G.o.d, control us as Thou wilt, And guide the labour of our hand; Let all our work be surely built As Thou, the architect, hast planned; But whatso'er thy power shall make Of these frail lives, do not forsake Thy dwelling: let thy presence rest For ever in the temple of our breast.
SPIRIT OF THE EVERLASTING BOY
ODE FOR THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF LAWRENCEVILLE SCHOOL
June 11, 1910
I
The British bard who looked on Eton's walls, Endeared by distance in the pearly gray And soft aerial blue that ever falls On English landscape with the dying day, Beheld in thought his boyhood far away, Its random raptures and its festivals Of noisy mirth, The brief illusion of its idle joys, And mourned that none of these can stay With men, whom life inexorably calls To face the grim realities of earth.
His pensive fancy pictured there at play From year to year the careless bands of boys, Unconscious victims kept in golden state, While haply they await The dark approach of disenchanting Fate, To hale them to the sacrifice Of Pain and Penury and Grief and Care, Slow-withering Age, or Failure's swift despair.
Half-pity and half-envy dimmed the eyes Of that old poet, gazing on the scene Where long ago his youth had flowed serene, And all the burden of his ode was this: ”Where ignorance is bliss, 'Tis folly to be wise.”
II
But not for us, O plaintive elegist, Thine epicedial tone of sad farewell To joy in wisdom and to thought in youth!
Our western Muse would keep her tryst With sunrise, not with sunset, and foretell In boyhood's bliss the dawn of manhood's truth.
III
O spirit of the everlasting boy, Alert, elate, And confident that life is good, Thou knockest boldly at the gate, In hopeful hardihood, Eager to enter and enjoy Thy new estate.
Through the old house thou runnest everywhere, Bringing a breath of folly and fresh air.
Ready to make a treasure of each toy, Or break them all in discontented mood; Fearless of Fate, Yet strangely fearful of a comrade's laugh; Reckless and timid, hard and sensitive; In talk a rebel, full of mocking chaff, At heart devout conservative; In love with love, yet hating to be kissed; Inveterate optimist, And judge severe, In reason cloudy but in feeling clear; Keen critic, ardent hero-wors.h.i.+pper, Impatient of restraint in little ways, Yet ever ready to confer On chosen leaders boundless power and praise; Adventurous spirit burning to explore Untrodden paths where hidden danger lies, And homesick heart looking with wistful eyes Through every twilight to a mother's door; Thou daring, darling, inconsistent boy, How dull the world would be Without thy presence, dear barbarian, And happy lord of high futurity!
Be what thou art, our trouble and our joy, Our hardest problem and our brightest hope!
And while thine elders lead thee up the slope Of knowledge, let them learn from teaching thee That vital joy is part of nature's plan, And he who keeps the spirit of the boy Shall gladly grow to be a happy man.
IV
What const.i.tutes a school?