Evolution of Expression — Volume 1Emerson, Charles Wesley
Science
Evolution of Expression — Volume 1
Emerson, Charles Wesley
Elocution; Recitations
4. Bacon died; but the human understanding, roused by the torch of
his miraculous mind to a perception of the true philosophy and the
just mode of inquiring after truth, has kept on its course
successfully and gloriously. Newton died; yet the courses of the
spheres are still known, and they yet move on, in the orbits which
he saw and described for them, in the infinity of space.
5. No two men now live--perhaps it may be doubted whether any two
men have ever lived in one age,--who, more than those we now
commemorate, have impressed their own sentiments, in regard to
politics and government, on mankind; infused their own opinions
more deeply into the opinions of others; or given a more lasting
direction to the current of human thought. Their work doth not
perish with them. The tree which they assisted to plant will
flourish, although they water it and protect it no longer; for it
has struck its roots deep; it has sent them to the very center; no
storm, not of force to burst the orb, can overturn it; its
branches spread wide; they stretch their protecting arms broader
and broader, and its top is destined to reach the heavens.
6. We are not deceived. There is no delusion here. No age will
come, in which the American Revolution will appear less than it
is--one of the greatest events in human history. No age will come,
in which in it will cease to be seen and felt, on either
continent, that a mighty step, a great advance, not only in
American affairs, but in human affairs, was made on the 4th of
July, 1776. And no age will come, we trust, so ignorant, or so
unjust, as not to see and acknowledge the efficient agency of
these we now honor, in producing that momentous event.
DANIEL WEBSTER.
THE DEFENCE OF LUCKNOW.
I.
Banner of England, not for a season, O banner of
Britain, hast thou
Floated in conquering battle or flapt to the battle cry!
Never with mightier glory than when we had reared
thee on high,
Flying at top of the roofs in the ghastly siege at Lucknow--
Shot through the staff or the halyard, but ever we raised
thee anew,
And ever upon the topmost roof our banner of England blew.
II.
Frail were the works that defended the hold that we
held with our lives--
Women and children among us--God help them, our
children and wives!
Hold it we might--and for fifteen days or for twenty at most.
"Never surrender, I charge you, but every man die at his
post!"
Voice of the dead whom we loved, our Lawrence the
best of the brave;
Cold were his brows when we kissed him--we laid
him that night in his grave.
III.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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