Classic Poem

Spoken at a Performance of Solemn M USIC and O RATORY,
in the Hall of the College of P HILADELPHIA

I N Wisdom's lore the tender mind to frame,
The youthful breast to fire with virtue's flame,
The thoughts to raise, the passions to control,
And plant each godlike purpose in the soul ;
To S CIENCE this illustrious field's affign'd,
To beam the rays of knowledge o'er mankind ;
For this were plan'd the noble laws of art,
T' unfold the embrio powers of the heart ;
To guide each movement to its native goal,
And scan the systems of this mighty whole !

Heav'n has on man the reasoning gift bestow'd,
And in his breast sublime ideas sow'd ;
But as it fares with rich luxuriant land,
When left to chance, nor till'd by culture's hand,
For fragrant flowers the rankling weeds arise,
Poison the plains and all their charms disguise;
So when the thoughts are in a lawless state,
Which in the mind's fair garden vegetate,
Soon shall intentions foul pollute the breast,
Like noxious weeds that flow'ry lawns infest.

Not more distinguish'd in creation's chain
Is man, by reason, o'er the bestial train,
Than man from man, by education made,
When native sense by Science is array'd,
When ev'ry faculty matur'd by skill,
Obeys the dictates of the sapient will ;
Then, led by Science , fancy wings her flight
Round the wide world, or to the realms of light,
Extracting wisdom from each scene below,
Or soaring 'mid the radiant planets glow ; — —
Where, wonder struck ! — she finds their sparkling rays,
But bright reflections from the solar blaze !
And views with steady eye those wandering stars,
That fright the world with prodigies and wars !

By S CIENCE youthful minds are taught to know,
What to their God , their Country , Friends , they owe ;
Life's glorious scope, and whence it first began,
What springs direct the Microcosm, Man ;
What bids a savage like a sage to shine,
Or makes an Attila an Antonine ;
All that ennobles man's exalted race,
All that Religion , Virtue , Truth , embrace !
'Tis her's with loftier feelings to inspire,
And fit a mortal for the heavenly choir !