Classic Poem

This precious gift, with nicest care,
The bard through every scene shall bear;
A choice memento it shall be,
Of friendship and sincerity.
And when, as oft' it will be so,
We must the dear delights forego,
Which personal intercourse bestows,
When through the face the spirit glows;
Of these depriv'd, when he shall stray
" Over the hills and far away; "
Or, dashing through the briny tide,
On ocean's bosom grandly ride,
To lands, remote from Britain's isle,
With lovely science sweetly toil;
Or wanton, with the wanton muse,
Where fancy leads, and truth pursues;
Then shall this Pen! with care, display
Whate'er is worthy on his way;
And tho' his head may faulty be,
His heart shall make amends to thee;
Thou lov'st, he knows, th' impassioned mind,
And, where the soul breathes, wilt be kind;
And prizest more one genuine thought,
Than lifeless style...though college taught.

The motto which thou bid'st it bear,
Hath been its guider's constant care;
And, " In the just cause only " drawn,
Of life, it cheerful made the dawn;
And will, through all its course, bestow
A cordial for severest woe;
And, 'biding by this maxim sweet,
Towards thee his grateful heart shall beat;
Till welcome death shall kindly tear
Thy C LIO from this earthly sphere,
To realms...where friendship's sons shall have
Ten thousand fold for all they gave.