College of William and Mary - Colonial Echo Yearbook (Williamsburg, VA)

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Then for a time the music ceased, and lo ! Forth from the cave a white-robed maiden rame. She bore within her hand the silver bow Of great Apollo, god of tmieful fame, A wondrous beauty lit her sybil face And to her form there clung a mystic grace. Priestess, I cried, of the Farshooting One ! Sweet Calliope or whate ' er thy name ; Grant me this boon ere yet thy lord shall run To other lands to put the stars to shame; Ere yet upon life ' s weary way I start Teach thou a lesson to my fearful heart. A little band of soldiers yet untried Awaiting but the bugle call of life. Brave as the bravest that have fought and died And ready for the hardship and the strife. Do thou, O priestess, lift thy voice and pray To great Apollo that they win the day. The sybil heard and, speaking, raised her head, Wherefore, O mortal, comest thou to break The pleasant slumbers of the tuneful dead Men long have mocked at song and for my sake They sacrifice no longer as of old, Their lyres are broken; Phoebus fane is cold. Yet since thou comest to the isle of song, Apollo bid ' st the oracle to speak. The message heed, nor e ' er repeat it wrong. Lest on thy head the god his vengeance wreak. Hark! Hark! for I Apollo ' s lyre shall string, ' T is thine to hear and heed what I do sing. Lo ! what a splendor fills the eastern sky : Hark! loud and clear sounds out the bugle call. A soldier band prepared to do and die; To glorious stand or gloriously to fall. Starts like a caravan toward the West, Each with unblemished ' scutcheon on his breast. 24

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Senior poem. Across the isle of song, a gentle breeze, Bearing melodious strains wliere ' er it went Played, as on liarps, upon tliL- tuneful trees. With phantom hands, and ever to the music blent Tlie sounds of many waters from whose roar Came the clear voices of the bards of yore. Though devious ways, 1 followed the strange sound Through rocky passes, over cliff and crag, Down meadows where the violets abound ; By marshes bordered with the reed and flag. Where dew-empearled lilies kiss the stream. And wake the water from its placid dream. 1 followed ever where the music led, And wondered at its mystic, magic power ; As sweet the voices at the bards long dead Soothed into sleep all sorrow of the hour. And made the sadne.ss of my soul to cease Till Joy, light-winged, led me on in peace. Followed through fields where gentle pansies grow, And sweetest lilies of the valley bloom : Where ' mid the glossy leaves magnolias blow. And rare carnations waft their rich perfume : Great fields with golden buttercups alight, And daisies like a rolling sea of white. Till I had wandered to an olden cave Mantled by ancient ivy clambering o ' er, From whence the music came, now gay, now grave. Low as a rill, or loud as tempest roar: Till like a symphony it swelled so grand It seemed an ocean dashing on the strand.

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To thee it is to clioose and act thy part ; To stand a hero or a coward flee: Gird up thy strength and fortify thy heart: Nor carry that which may encumber thee. Thy weapons should he few liut sure and tried, O ' ercome by their own arms brave men have died. If thou pursues! fickle fame, beware: Lest she doth lead thee wliere thou would ' st not go, Nor follow wealth to quagmires of despair: Nor seeking Honor grasp an empty show. Time is too fleet and life too rare a thing To sell it all to hear the Sirens sing. When opportunity shall .speak with whispering voice. And point unto his way unseen before. Up, quickly turn and make a wise one ' s choice ; Else seeking him thou ' It find a fast-locked door. If once thou sleepest through the golden day No power of thine may chase the night away. Remember him of whom the Hebrews tell. Who sought his father ' s wandering ass alone ; But yet on him the Prophet ' s favor fell— He sought an ass but found a kingly throne. So often he who doth the smallest thing For Duty, shall, unknown, be crowned a king. This then I charge thee, ere thou take thy way, Kule, if thou rulest, o ' er the realm of mind; And yet o ' er mind let character hold sway. And place all lesser things, below, behind. So thou more glorious still shall reach the west. While o ' er thee waves unstained the victor ' s crest. Up, then, and with a strong man ' s strength, be strong. Fear not, nor falter on thy chosen way ; Shun, thou, all coward deeds and flee all wrong. But if they come upon thee, up, and slay. I speak for him, God of the silver bow. So ! blessing, I have blessed thee, rise and go. James South.vll Wilson. 25