Delaware Patriot & American Watchman

PRIZE ADDRESS,
Spoken at the opening of the Salem Theatre Feb. 4, 1828.

To call past ages from the sleep of time,
To rouse the dwellers of each voiceless clime,
And bid them stand as once on Earth they stood.
To shake the guilty, and to charm the good;--
To catch the wonders of the present hour,
New grace to fiction give, to truth new power,
With mirth to cheer, with grief to melt the soul;
And hold each passion in sublime controul;--
For these the Drama rose in ancient days,
And taught her Bards undying strains to raise:
Bade them unlock the treasures of the mind,
And spread a new creation to mankind.
Twas glorious all! the Muses blest the hour
And poured their sweetest songs in dome and bower,
But night at length "came down"--the night of doom,
That wrapt Earth's brightest realm in starless gloom.
Round Wisdom's haunts the raven shadows sweep,
Art's lovely daughters veiled their heads, and wept,
From their cold groves the Drama's minstrels fled,
And dulness brooded o'er the living dead.
So tuneless ages rolled--when, lo! once more
Redeeming Genius sought a happier shore.
Like Mercy's dove for one green spot he flew,
Nor paused till Ocean's empress caught his view;
There his bold eye beheld the promised rest,
And Shakspeare's Albion wooed him to her breast.
Then sang The Bard! in greatness and in grace.
The matchless One--th'anointed of his race.
At his command once more the Drama rose,
To shield fair virtue, and to shame her foes.
Time bowed before him, Death resigned his trust.
Kingdoms came back, and Monarchs left the dust:
All at his bidding, burst Oblivion's grave,
To warn, to win, to chasten, and to save.
Proud was the lyre beneath its master's hand.
And wrapt the listeners of our Father land.
Soon from the Old the New World caught the strain,
And hailed on Freedom's shores the Drama's reign:
From spot to spot the inspiration flew,
And reared at last This vaulted Dome--for You!
For you, ye glad-eyed throngs, who cluster round,
Where a new home the Drama's sons have found,
For you,--for you and yours our fane is dressed--
By you and yours, O, may our rites be blessed!
Pure be the verse that lingers on each tongue,
Meet for the wise, the beauteous, and the young;
So parent love shall smile upon the place,
And gather here the fond ones of his race;
So all, in pleasure lapped, or lost in woe,
Shall gaze unfearing, and untainted go.
Come then to us, and to yourselves be just,
And bid the Stage fulfil its glorious trust.
To this fair Temple as your feet ye turn,
Let no strange fire to shame its altar burn
On you the cherub voice of goodness calls,
Rise on her champions, and protect these walls!
So shall their echoes wake and warm each heart,
All ill subdue, and all that's good impart;--
So shall they stand, to holy virtue dear,
Above all hatred, and above all fear.