Charles Sumner

Thine was a brain of Nature's finest mould,
Great Sumner! and thy spirit-poise as rare.
Born — not to idly dream but nobly dare —
With all the mind's vast forces well controlled,
Thou, like Olympian Jove, didst wisely hold
Stern empire over justice. Thine the care,
That right should rule, and wrong, however fair
In outward seeming, should be shunned. Untold
The influence of thy magnanimity.
Alert in action, sage in counsel thou,
A statesman truly, not alone in name,
Thy regnant soul spurned ev'ry false decree.
Honor was graven on thy shield, and now
We fain would honor thee with loud acclaim.