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Poem
February 12, 1827
Phenix Gazette
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
Elegy commemorating Professor Alexander M. Fisher, who perished in the 1826 shipwreck of the Albion off Ireland. Recalls his childhood, virtues, scientific genius, and envisions his afterlife with Newton, amid descriptions of the storm and wreck.
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POETRY.
On the National Advocate.
To the memory of Alexander M. Fisher, Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, who perished in the Albion.
From the plain of Olympus the coursers of day
Have circled Apollo in glory away;
The Queen of the crescent low o'er the west,
And bright were the gems on the blue of her vest.
Where Erin lies green, mid the surges that roar
In merciless rage round the rocks of her shore,
The breath of the ocean came fresh o'er the sail,
And proudly the Albion rode with the gale.
The land was in view, the mariner's eye
Beamed bright, that the home of the Briton was nigh;
The sea-weary passenger banished his sorrow,
And thought with delight on the bliss of to-morrow.
To-morrow! Ah yes, that to-morrow shall come,
But never the day that shall give thee thy home;
To-morrow thy form shall be rocked by the wave,
The coral thy pillow, and ocean thy grave!
A cloud o'er the east spread its mantle of gloom,
Like Despair as she raves round the Infidel's tomb,
Then slowly ascends till she wraps from the eye
The last star of night on the robe of the sky.
The seamen to quarters the master commands,
The cordage plays warm through the mariner's hands,
But ere to the ship they can safety afford,
The main and the foremast are swept by the board.
The seas roll in mountains and deluge the deck,
The vessel, ungoverned, drives swiftly a wreck,
The sufferers call, but the effort is vain,
For ruin and death have the rule of the main.
Oh, Fisher! I knew thee when childhood's sweet charms
Were fondly caressed in a mother's soft arms;
I knew thee in youth; for how oft did we rove,
Through the shade of some distant and sheltering grove.
Fair science our theme, and distinction our aim,
We dreamed of the days that our merit might claim:
But death has forbid thee to honor us more,
And merged thee in ocean, far, far from our shore.
Thy virtue was pure as the breath of that morn,
When man on the bosom of Eden was born;
Thy genius was bright as the first vermeil ray,
That sheds on the hill top the splendor of day.
May pinions of light to thy spirit be given,
With Newton to range through the science of Heaven;
There sorrow and darkness no longer control,
But fountains of knowledge spring fresh in the soul.
New-York, May 31, 1826.
"PIERRE"
On the National Advocate.
To the memory of Alexander M. Fisher, Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, who perished in the Albion.
From the plain of Olympus the coursers of day
Have circled Apollo in glory away;
The Queen of the crescent low o'er the west,
And bright were the gems on the blue of her vest.
Where Erin lies green, mid the surges that roar
In merciless rage round the rocks of her shore,
The breath of the ocean came fresh o'er the sail,
And proudly the Albion rode with the gale.
The land was in view, the mariner's eye
Beamed bright, that the home of the Briton was nigh;
The sea-weary passenger banished his sorrow,
And thought with delight on the bliss of to-morrow.
To-morrow! Ah yes, that to-morrow shall come,
But never the day that shall give thee thy home;
To-morrow thy form shall be rocked by the wave,
The coral thy pillow, and ocean thy grave!
A cloud o'er the east spread its mantle of gloom,
Like Despair as she raves round the Infidel's tomb,
Then slowly ascends till she wraps from the eye
The last star of night on the robe of the sky.
The seamen to quarters the master commands,
The cordage plays warm through the mariner's hands,
But ere to the ship they can safety afford,
The main and the foremast are swept by the board.
The seas roll in mountains and deluge the deck,
The vessel, ungoverned, drives swiftly a wreck,
The sufferers call, but the effort is vain,
For ruin and death have the rule of the main.
Oh, Fisher! I knew thee when childhood's sweet charms
Were fondly caressed in a mother's soft arms;
I knew thee in youth; for how oft did we rove,
Through the shade of some distant and sheltering grove.
Fair science our theme, and distinction our aim,
We dreamed of the days that our merit might claim:
But death has forbid thee to honor us more,
And merged thee in ocean, far, far from our shore.
Thy virtue was pure as the breath of that morn,
When man on the bosom of Eden was born;
Thy genius was bright as the first vermeil ray,
That sheds on the hill top the splendor of day.
May pinions of light to thy spirit be given,
With Newton to range through the science of Heaven;
There sorrow and darkness no longer control,
But fountains of knowledge spring fresh in the soul.
New-York, May 31, 1826.
"PIERRE"
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Moral Virtue
Religious Faith
What keywords are associated?
Alexander Fisher
Albion Shipwreck
Elegy Professor
Ocean Grave
Newton Heaven
Irish Coast
Scientific Genius
What entities or persons were involved?
"Pierre"
Poem Details
Title
On The National Advocate. To The Memory Of Alexander M. Fisher, Professor Of Mathematics And Natural Philosophy, Who Perished In The Albion.
Author
"Pierre"
Subject
To The Memory Of Alexander M. Fisher, Who Perished In The Albion
Key Lines
To Morrow Thy Form Shall Be Rocked By The Wave,
The Coral Thy Pillow, And Ocean Thy Grave!
Oh, Fisher! I Knew Thee When Childhood's Sweet Charms
Were Fondly Caressed In A Mother's Soft Arms;
Thy Virtue Was Pure As The Breath Of That Morn,
When Man On The Bosom Of Eden Was Born;
May Pinions Of Light To Thy Spirit Be Given,
With Newton To Range Through The Science Of Heaven;