THE GREAT EXHIBITION OF 1862.
The great Exchanges press each other's heels,
Like the swift seasons or the swifter moons,
All Europe through—and every nation feels
This kindly intercourse the best of boons ;
The paths of peace and commerce, from all sides,
Lie straight for England, like old Roman ways ;
Hither the railway brawls, the steamboat glides,
The desert-ship is steer'd, the sledge-dog bays !
Brought to the coast, and then disburthen'd there.
The o'erladen camel's spongy foot springs home
To its old span, while with a witless stare
He eyes the sea-board and the barks that come
To float his burthen off to the world's Fair :
The dog returns in snowy wilds to roam.
They snuff the breath of intervening seas,
And know no more of London, but the man
Ardent, competitive, and large of plan,
Brings all his spirit to such marts as these
The porterage of sea and land is claim d,
All common means we mend and multiply
Let not these bold preparatives be shamed,
These energies of hope advance to die !
O Art and Commerce, set the nations free,
And bid the rites of war's proud temples cease
O power of steam ! for ever may'st thou be
A rolling incense in the house of peace !
And all these vast consignments but increase
Our sense of brotherhood and charity !
The great Exchanges press each other's heels,
Like the swift seasons or the swifter moons,
All Europe through—and every nation feels
This kindly intercourse the best of boons ;
The paths of peace and commerce, from all sides,
Lie straight for England, like old Roman ways ;
Hither the railway brawls, the steamboat glides,
The desert-ship is steer'd, the sledge-dog bays !
Brought to the coast, and then disburthen'd there.
The o'erladen camel's spongy foot springs home
To its old span, while with a witless stare
He eyes the sea-board and the barks that come
To float his burthen off to the world's Fair :
The dog returns in snowy wilds to roam.
They snuff the breath of intervening seas,
And know no more of London, but the man
Ardent, competitive, and large of plan,
Brings all his spirit to such marts as these
The porterage of sea and land is claim d,
All common means we mend and multiply
Let not these bold preparatives be shamed,
These energies of hope advance to die !
O Art and Commerce, set the nations free,
And bid the rites of war's proud temples cease
O power of steam ! for ever may'st thou be
A rolling incense in the house of peace !
And all these vast consignments but increase
Our sense of brotherhood and charity !