Poems Sigourney 1834/Montpelier

by Lydia Sigourney

MONTPELIER.

THE RESIDENCE OF JAMES MADISON, ESQ., EX-PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES.

How fair beneath Virginia's sky,
Montpelier strikes the traveller's eye,
Emerging from its forest bower,
Like feudal chieftain's ancient tower,
With parks and lawns and gardens drest,
In peaceful verdure proudly blest.

    What blended beauties cheer the sight!
The distant mountains' misty height,
The circling prospect's cultured bound,
The attic temple's echoing round,
The locust copse where warblers throng,
And gaily pour the unfettered song,
The flowers in bright profusion seen,
The luscious fig's luxuriant green,
The clasping vine, whose clusters fair
Seem as of genial France the care,
The bright-eyed pheasant, beauteous guest,
The eastern bird, with gorgeous vest,
Still for his mimic speech carest,
The curtaining jessamine that showers
Rich fragrance o'er the nightly bowers,
Those halls, whose varied stores impart
The classic pencil's magic art,

The chisel's life-bestowing power,
The lore that cheats the studious hour,
And music's strains, that vainly vie
With the touched spirit's melody—
How strong the tissued spells that bind
The lingering eye, and charmed mind.

    Here wisdom rests in sylvan shade,
That erst an empire's councils swayed,
And goodness whose persuasive art
So justly won that empire's heart,
And piety,*^[1] with hoary hair,
Who, rising o'er this Eden fair,
Beholds, by mortal foot untrod,
A brighter Eden with its God.

    Montpelier!—these thy name have set
A gem in memory's coronet,
Whose lustre ruthless time shall spare,
Till from her brow that crown he tear—
Till from her book that page he rend,
Which of a stranger made a friend.

1. * The venerable mother of President Madison, who survived, honoured and beloved, until past the age of ninety years.