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Literary
March 7, 1881
The Daily Gazette
Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware
What is this article about?
Whittier's poem 'The Prelude to "The King's Missive" and Other Poems' reflects on absent old friends who have passed away, invites remaining friends to gather in gratitude, seeks sympathy from younger ones, and affirms faith in divine oversight and life's fulfillment.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Whittier's New Poem THE PRELUDE TO "THE KING'S MISSIVE" AND OTHER POEMS.
"I spread a scanty board too late;
The old-time guests for whom I wait
Come few and slow, methinks to-day
Ah! who would hear my messages
Across the dim unsounded seas
On which so many have sailed away!
"Come, then, old friends who linger yet,
And if we meet, as we have met,
Once more beneath this low sunshine,
And grateful for the good we've known
The riddles solved, the ills outgrown,
Take hands upon the broader line.
"The favor asked too oft before,
From your indulgent ears, once more
I crave, and, if belated lays
To slower, feebler measures move,
The silent sympathy of love
To me is dearer now than praise.
"And ye, oh younger friends, for whom
My hearth and heart keep open room,
Come smiling through the shadows long.
Be with me while the sun goes down,
And with your cheerful voices drown
The minor of my even-song.
"For, equal, through the day and night,
The wise eternal oversight
And love and power and righteous will
Remain: the law of destiny
The best for each and all must be
And life its promise shall fulfill."
"I spread a scanty board too late;
The old-time guests for whom I wait
Come few and slow, methinks to-day
Ah! who would hear my messages
Across the dim unsounded seas
On which so many have sailed away!
"Come, then, old friends who linger yet,
And if we meet, as we have met,
Once more beneath this low sunshine,
And grateful for the good we've known
The riddles solved, the ills outgrown,
Take hands upon the broader line.
"The favor asked too oft before,
From your indulgent ears, once more
I crave, and, if belated lays
To slower, feebler measures move,
The silent sympathy of love
To me is dearer now than praise.
"And ye, oh younger friends, for whom
My hearth and heart keep open room,
Come smiling through the shadows long.
Be with me while the sun goes down,
And with your cheerful voices drown
The minor of my even-song.
"For, equal, through the day and night,
The wise eternal oversight
And love and power and righteous will
Remain: the law of destiny
The best for each and all must be
And life its promise shall fulfill."
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
What themes does it cover?
Friendship
Death Mortality
Religious
What keywords are associated?
Whittier Poem
Prelude
Old Friends
Eternal Oversight
Destiny
What entities or persons were involved?
Whittier
Literary Details
Title
The Prelude To "The King's Missive" And Other Poems.
Author
Whittier
Key Lines
"I Spread A Scanty Board Too Late;
The Old Time Guests For Whom I Wait
Come Few And Slow, Methinks To Day
Ah! Who Would Hear My Messages
Across The Dim Unsounded Seas
On Which So Many Have Sailed Away!"
"Come, Then, Old Friends Who Linger Yet,
And If We Meet, As We Have Met,
Once More Beneath This Low Sunshine,
And Grateful For The Good We've Known
The Riddles Solved, The Ills Outgrown,
Take Hands Upon The Broader Line."
"For, Equal, Through The Day And Night,
The Wise Eternal Oversight
And Love And Power And Righteous Will
Remain: The Law Of Destiny
The Best For Each And All Must Be
And Life Its Promise Shall Fulfill."