NOT he, the statesman, whatsoe'er his name, Who would strip Life of all adventurousness, Of all but arrow-proof and storm-proof dress, Making it more and more ignobly tame, Poorer in perils which they that overcame Were braced and manned by, -- making it less and less The school of heroes armed for struggle and stress, -- Not he shall win hereafter radiant fame. But when some dauntless teller of truth unsweet Shall shake the slumberous People, with rude power, To a vast New Birth of all the soul and mind, Him, and none other, at the destined hour, Him, quick or dead, the thunderous thanks shall greet, Not of his country alone, but of his kind. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONNET TO THE RIVER OTTER by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE THE BLUE AND THE GRAY by FRANCIS MILES FINCH THE LOVE-SICK FROG by MOTHER GOOSE BEAT! BEAT! DRUMS! by WALT WHITMAN THORWALDSEN by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH CLIO, NINE ECLOGUES IN HONOUR OF NINE VIRTUES: DEDICATION TO R. WENMAN by WILLIAM BASSE |