POETRY.
THE NEW PRIMATE. AGE as of granite, with a heart of fire : Nerve as of iron, strength that cannot tire : Hard on himself, to others bluff and bold, The great dear master that we loved of old ! Now with a gesture strong, and massive phrase, Like to a boulder of primmval days. Unpolished, rude, the ponderous sentence rolls, To lie unmoved, a landmark in our souls, Low in the valley, telling whence it came, The winter's ravage on the rocks of flame !
Such is his common talk : on themes more high He softens, melts ; a tear is in his eye ; Till as it falls, and wets his rugged cheek, His voice grows stern ; you shall not think him weak, But with himself at war ; the only foe Be dreads, the fire that throbs too fierce below.
Only at times, of Christmas, Easter-day, He breaks all bounds, he casts the curb away ; Flings off restraint, and counting not the cost, Fights for his Lord, a soldier at his post ; His Master, as he ealls him : tremblingly The word falls from him with a yearning cry.
Then, as they hear, the idlers, old and young, Arrested stop, and from an old man's tongue, Catching his fire, forget their dreary cries Of languor born, their cobweb sophistries, Kindle and glow; and, as the trumpet rings, Drink deep, athirst, his rage for better things ; Gird up their feeble loins, and, self forgot, Find a new pastime in the toiler's lot; And in the touch of hearts an inborn spell To bring back Christ on earth, in hearts to dwell.
Such is his power. 0 Thou, that guidest all Grant him to give, and us to hear, the call, The leader's rallying signal ; and through lands Of sea-spread England knit concordant bands ! At home a steadfast strength, a dauntless power Wisely to stem the madness of the hour: With justice, as the light transparent, free, And patience like a slowly-sapping Bea, Preaching to wayward hearts too fain to roam,
Brotherhood, union, purity, and home. A. G. B.
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