“_I like that friendship which, by soft gentle pauses, steals upon the affections and grows mellow with time, by reciprocal offices and trials of love; that friendship is like to last long, and never shrink in the wetting_”. HOWEL. I. In Youth’s glad morning, when the rising East Glows golden with assurance of success, And life itself ’s a rare continual feast, Enjoyed the more if meditated less, ’T is then that friendship’s pleasures chiefly bless, As if without beginning,--ne’er to end,-- So rich the season and so dear the friend, When thou and I went wandering hand in hand; Mine wert thou in our years of earliest prime, Studious at home, or to the southern land Adventuring bold; again in later time, Thy kindly service, always at command Of calm discretion, and abounding sense, Prompted and showed the path to excellence. “_Power above powers! O heavenly eloquence! That, with the strong rein of commanding words, Dost manage, guide, and master the eminence Of man’s affections more than all their swords; Shall we not offer to thy excellence The richest treasure that our wit affords? Or should we careless come behind the rest In power of words that go before in worth; When all that ever hotter spirits exprest Comes bettered by the patience of the North?_” DANIEL. II. My thought revives at utterance of thy name,-- Doth high behavior, sweet discourse recall, Lit with emotion’s quick and quenchless flame, Imagination interfused through all; Then peals thy voice melodious on mine ear, As when grave anthems thou didst well recite,-- Laodamia’s vision sad and dear, Or “Thanatopsis,” or “Hail, Holy Light!” Thou true Professor, gifted to dispense New pathos e’en to Channing’s eloquence; If mother tongue they fail to speak or write, Nor Greek nor Latin draw thy pupils thence; Such culture, taught by the far Northern sea, This scholar brings, New England, home to thee. “_Ascending soul, sing Pæan_”. ORACLE. III. Christian beloved! devoid of art and wile,-- Who lovest thy Lord so well, with heart so true, That neither mist nor mote of worldly guile May clog thy vision, nor confuse the view Of that transcendent and commanding style Of god-like manhood; which had dazed long while Each purblind brother’s idol-loving eye. Sense overpowering doth the soul belie: Thou the soul’s errand and due place dost see, Its heavenly features to thy ken disclose, As when in Nazareth thy Lord uprose, The Father’s image in Humanity. A holy service thine, interpreter Of Lazarus rising from the sepulchre.