| |
December 29th, 1880
I. I NEVER touched thy royal hand, dead queen, | |
| But from afar have looked upon thy face, | |
| Which, calm with conquest, carried still the trace | |
| Of many a hard-fought battle that had been. | |
| Since thou hast done with life, its toil and teen, | 5 |
| Its pains and gains, and that no further grace | |
| Can come to us of thee, a poorer place | |
| Shows the lorn world,—a dimlier lighted scene. | |
| |
| Lost queen and captain, Pallas of our band, | |
| Who late upon the height of glory stood, | 10 |
| Guarding from scorn—the ægis in thy hand— | |
| The banner of insurgent womanhood; | |
| Who of our cause may take the high command? | |
| Who make with shining front our victory good? | |
| |
II. Great student of the schools, who grew to be | 15 |
| The greater teacher, having wandered wide | |
| In lonely strength of purity and pride | |
| Through pathless sands, unfruitful as the sea. | |
| Now warning words—and one clear act of thee, | |
| Bold pioneer who shouldst have been our guide— | 20 |
| Affirm the track which Wisdom must abide;— | |
| For man is bond, the beast alone is free. | |
| |
| So hast thou sought a larger good, so won | |
| Thy way to higher law, that by thy grave | |
| We thanking thee for lavish gifts, for none | 25 |
| May owe thee more than that in quest so brave— | |
| True to a light our onward feet must shun— | |
| Thou gavest nobler strength our strength to save. | |
| |
