Two Sonnets: Harvard

At the meeting of the New York Harvard Club, February 21, 1878.     "CHRISTO ET ECCLESLE." 1700     To GOD'S ANOINTED AND HIS CHOSEN FLOCK     So ran the phrase the black-robed conclave chose     To guard the sacred cloisters that arose     Like David's altar on Moriah's rock.     Unshaken still those ancient arches mock     The ram's-horn summons of the windy foes     Who stand like Joshua's army while it blows     And wait to see them toppling with the shock.     Christ and the Church. Their church, whose narrow door     Shut out the many, who if overbold     Like hunted wolves were driven from the fold,     Bruised with the flails these godly zealots bore,     Mindful that Israel's altar stood of old     Where echoed once Araunah's threshing-floor.     1643 "VERITAS." 1878     Truth: So the frontlet's older legend ran,     On the brief record's opening page displayed;     Not yet those clear-eyed scholars were afraid     Lest the fair fruit that wrought the woe of man     By far Euphrates - where our sire began     His search for truth, and, seeking, was betrayed -     Might work new treason in their forest shade,     Doubling the curse that brought life's shortened span.     Nurse of the future, daughter of the past,     That stern phylactery best becomes thee now     Lift to the morning star thy marble brow     Cast thy brave truth on every warring blast!     Stretch thy white hand to that forbidden bough,     And let thine earliest symbol be thy last!