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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE DEATH OF TELL, by HENRY MORFORD Poet's Biography First Line: There are, with forms celestial Last Line: That closed the life of tell! Subject(s): Schachen (river), Switzerland; Tell, William | |||
THERE are, with forms celestial, And faces starry-bright, -- Throughout the joyous youth-time A hope and true delight, -- Who fall, as age advances, Beneath some sad eclipse, And leave no pleasant record To be told by fondest lips. There are, in whom the Godhead, In youth but dimly seen, More brightly glows and flashes, In conduct as in mien, -- When years have laid their burthen On shoulder and on head, -- So "the last days are the best days," As one of old has said. Methinks no crown he needed, -- Thus known to world-wide fame, -- As one who wore so nobly The Swiss Deliverer's name: To be true Tell of Altorf, -- What more could patriot need? And how could he be honored By any later deed? And yet there was a crowning, Unknown to history's roll: One last great revelation That spoke the Switzer's soul; And though his years of silence Have grown to centuries gray, Why should we pause, to widen His glory, if we may? There's a little stream, the Schachen, Not far from Altorf's walls, That downward to its parent, The Reuss, in tumult brawls; And dangerous is its current To feeble limb or hand, When those in lusty manhood Its force can scarce withstand. Old age had bowed Tell's figure, And blanched his dark-brown hair; The hand that clove the apple No more such deed might dare; -- When in that raging torrent He saw a struggling child, While on the bank the mother In helpless fright ran wild. The Switzer paused no moment; Though prudence well might ask If yet the limb held vigor For such a venturous task. He plunged to do that rescue: He sank, to rise no more Until, with weeds and timber, He floated dead to shore. And thus the great life ended: God! -- was it not the best Of all the deeds of valor That won a hero's rest? So mused I, by the Schachen: So say we, true and well, That the last deed was the best deed, That closed the life of Tell! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WILLIAM TELL by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT ODE TO GEORGIANA, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE ON 'PASSAGE OVER MT. GOTHARD' by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE WILLIAM TELL AND THE GENIUS OF SWITZERLAND by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS WILLIAM TELL by JOHANN CHRISTOPH FRIEDRICH VON SCHILLER THE CHURCH OF SAN SALVADOR, SEEN FROM THE LAKE OF LUGANO by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH TELL AS A MARKSMAN - WERE FORGOTTEN by EMILY DICKINSON A WRECK IN SHREWSBURY INLET by HENRY MORFORD |
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