Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.

By Edmund ClarenceStedman

1 Prelude

I SAW the constellated matin choir

Then when they sang together in the dawn,—

The morning stars of this first rounded day

Hesperian, hundred-houred, that ending leaves

Youth’s fillet still upon the New World’s brow;

Then when they sang together,—sang for joy

Of mount and wood and cataract, and stretch

Of keen-aired vasty reaches happy-homed,—

I heard the stately hymning, saw their light

Resolve in flame that evil long in wrought

With what was else the goodliest demain

Of freedom warded by the ancient sea;

So sang they, rose they, to meridian,

And westering down the firmament led on

Cluster and train of younger celebrants

That beaconed as they might, by adverse skies

Shrouded, but stayed not nor discomfited,—

Of whom how many, and how dear, alas,

The voices stilled mid-orbit, stars eclipsed

Long ere the hour of setting; yet in turn

Others oncoming shine, nor fail to chant

New anthems, yet not alien, for the time

Goes not out darkling nor of music mute

To the next age,—that quickened now awaits

Their heralding, their more impassioned song.