POETRY.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 98, 22 October 1904, Page 11

POETRY.

ODE ON THE LAYING OF THE FOUNDA- , TION-STONE OF 'VICTORIA COLLEGE, 27th AUGUST, 1904. I. Here in the common clay, Here in our strait demesne, Lay we the stone in trust, Waiting the fuller day : » Gladly for gift and gain Rift the light from its shroud ; Sow the grain of Desire Down in the dark of the dust ; Raise for fellow to sun and cloud Upward-yeara ol a climbing spire 1 This for our fruited close, This for our park and pale ; Not where the viblet blows Far from the haste of feet ; Not where the world-voices fail, Challenging throng and speed ; But by the furling sheet, But by the trailing reek, By the tide's wash, with its tang on our cheek, Watch we the City, le.arn we its creed. Depth of the depthless skies ; Cloud-chased 1 dapple on hills ; Wealth of the sunsets' dyes ; Health of the wind that fills Canvas with keenness to reach Out to the purple meads ; Sleighta whence -we cannot bide Light from the seekers' needs; — These for our grace, our right, our pride ! —Seised in fee, and none may impeach. H. Ring of a charger's snaffle, roar of a cannonade ; Years ago on a Spanish field, Blind with the stab of 1 a summer sun; Flash of the hate of the bayonets, breach where the batteries played; Galloping hoofs when the bugle pealed ; Swinging line, and the silenced gun — Many thanks, O Wellington! Many a thanks for the fight you won, Years ago on the Spanish field ; lelling us so to play the game Here on the heights that inherit the name. m. Be this the Citadel that we shall guard Inviolate, by service for her fame ; OurWiews her honour and our troth her 4» shield t Troth welding grey walla faster than the frame. Her fight we'll fight upon the strenuous field Until the finish,— loyal and keen and hard. For her will the unselfish try be got, And for her cause the winning goal be shot; There will be praise and handshake, — warm and real, And closest union for our common weal. IV. No more our step will be a trespasser Beneath the portals of an overlord : But there will be the greeting and the stir Of fellowship within our rightful Hall. There will be wassail at our festal board, Glad voices, gay Terpsichorean throngs; And we will make the ringing roof recall The rousing chorus of our college-songs: Giving the gold sand of a social hour, Taking with reverence Knowledge for all dower. V. We will be of the world and feel its heart Beat, and our own will beat in sympathy; But we will keep a little space apart And sown with rosemary, for our abode

Within the windows opening on the sea. And if the dust be all about our tread, And white- the glare along the climbing road, Clear thouehb will come of how the East was red With promise, and the lanes with blossom rife, And fresh the dew upon the lawn of lite. VI. Clear face of Pallas, will thine eyes be kind Toward thy fane for ever? Let the light Press of thy sandals, 'neath thy stola white, Pass, that there may be sweetness as of wind Among ripe clover, for an open mind To cuU| and claim for treasure, charm, and right ; That we may know all purity and might Of Culture's thrall, in which our days we bind. Lay to our lips the cup wherein is mixed The potency of Knowledge, Science, Truth,— The fair-chased chalice-bowl for which athirst A many eyes keep vigil, through all ruth, With gazo for thy pure oval features fixed, — Deeming thee, Pallas, of Olympus first. — S.S.M., in The Victoria College Review.