Julius, of three rare brothers, my fast friends, The latest known to me! Aspasia comes With him, high-helmeted and trumpet-tongued, Who loved her. Well thou knowest all his worth, Valuing him most for trophies reared to Peace, For generous friendships, like thy own, for Arts Ennobled by protection, not debased. Hence, worthless ones! throne-cushions, puft, inert, Verminous, who degrade with patronage Bargain'd for, ere dealt out! The stone that flew In splinters from the chisel when the hand Of Phidias wielded it, the chips of stone Weigh with me more than they do. To thy house Comes Pericles. Receive the friend of him Whose horses started from the Parthenon To traverse seas and neigh upon our strand. From pleasant Italy my varied page, Where many men and many ages meet, Julius! thy friendly hand long since received. Accept my last of labours and of thanks. He who held mute the joyous and the wise With wit and eloquence, whose tomb (afar From all his friends and all his countrymen) Saddens the light Palermo, to thy care Consign'd it; knowing that whate'er is great Needs not the looming of a darker age, Nor knightly mail nor scymetar begemm'd. Stepping o'er all this lumber, where the steel Is shell'd with rust, and the thin gold worm'd out From its meandering waves, he took the scroll, And read aloud what sage and poet spake In sunnier climes; thou heardest it well pleased; For Truth from conflict rises more elate And lifts a brighter torch, beheld by more. Call'd to befriend me by fraternal love, Thou pausedst in thy vigorous march amid The German forests of wide-branching thought, Deep, intricate, whence voices shook all France, Whence Blucher's soldiers heard the trumpet-tongue And knew the footstep of Tyrtaean Arndt. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BOOK OF AIRS: SONG 19. THE FAIRY QUEEN PROSERPINA by THOMAS CAMPION AN ORDER FOR A PICTURE by ALICE CARY THE RUBAIYAT, 1879 EDITION: 71 by OMAR KHAYYAM CRY WOE, WOE, AND LET THE GOOD PREVAIL, FR. AGAMEMNON by AESCHYLUS TO HIS GRACE, GEORGE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND by PHILIP AYRES THE HINDOO'S DEATH by GEORGE BIRDSEYE |