IN THE CHURCHYARD AT TARRYTOWN1 HERE lies the gentle humorist, who died How sweet a life was his; how sweet a death! O YE dead Poets, who are living still From the sharp crown of thorns upon your head, Ye were not glad your errand to fulfil? 1876. NATURE As a fond mother, when the day is o'er, Still gazing at them through the open door, 1 The burial-place of Washington Irving. On Longfellow's great admiration for Irving, see the Life, vol i, p. 12. 2 Written for Whittier's seventieth birthday. 3 When any came to take the government of the Hundred or Wapentake in a day and place appointed, as they were accustomed to meete, all the better sort met him with lances, and he alighting from his horse, all rise up to him, and he setting or holding his lance upright, all the rest come with their lances, according to the auncient custome in confirming league and publike peace and obedience, and touch his lance or wea pon, and thereof called Wapentake, for the Saxon or old English wapun is weapon, and tac, tactus, a touching, thereby this meeting called Wapentake, or touching of weapon, because that by that signe and ceremonie of touching weapon or the lance, they were sworne and confederate. Master Lamberd in Minshew. (LONGFELLOW.) 1 After the capture of Louisburg in 1745 by the Massachusetts colonists, the French in revenge sent a large fleet against Boston the next year; but it was so disabled by storms that it had to put back. Mr Thomas Prince was the pastor of the Old South Meeting-house. In 1877, when the Old South was in danger of being destroyed, Rev. Edward Everett Hale wrote to Longfellow: You told me that if the spirit moved, you would try to sing us a song for the Old South Meeting-house. I have found such a charming story that I think it will really tempt you. I want at least to tell it to you.... The whole story of the fleet is in Hutchinson's Massachusetts, ii. 384, 385. The story of Prince and the prayer is in a tract in the College Library, which I will gladly send you, or Mr. Sibley will. I should think that the assembly in the meetinghouse in the gale, and then the terror of the fleet when the gale struck them, would make a ballad-if the spirit moved! Compare Whittier's 'In the Old South' and 'The Landmarks,' and Holmes's An Appeal for the Old South.' There were rumors in the street, In the houses there was fear Of the coming of the fleet, And the danger hovering near. And while from mouth to mouth Spread the tidings of dismay, I stood in the Old South, Saying humbly: 'Let us pray! O Lord! we would not advise; A tempest should arise To drive the French Fleet hence, We should be satisfied, This was the prayer I made, For my soul was all on flame, And even as I prayed The answering tempest came; It came with a mighty power, Shaking the windows and walls, And tolling the bell in the tower, As it tolls at funerals. The lightning suddenly Unsheathed its flaming sword, And I cried: Stand still, and see The salvation of the Lord!' The heavens were black with cloud, The sea was white with hail, And ever more fierce and loud Blew the October gale. The fleet it overtook, And the broad sails in the van Like the tents of Cushan shook, Or the curtains of Midian. Down on the reeling decks Crashed the o'erwhelming seas; Ah, never were there wrecks So pitiful as these! Like a potter's vessel broke The great ships of the line; They were carried away as a smoke, Or sank like lead in the brine. O Lord! before thy path They vanished and ceased to be, When thou didst walk in wrath 1877. 20 40 50 With thine horses through the sea! 1877. |