JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. 371 



His chief work, as we have seen, he believed to be the work 

 of reform. The personal effects of such work he felt sensibly. 

 At thirty-five, he wrote of himself for a lady's album: 



"A banished name from Fashion's sphere, 

 A lay unheard of Beauty's ear, 

 Forbid, disowned, — what do they here? " * 



At forty-five, in lines to his Namesake, f he draws his own 

 portrait : 



" Some blamed him, some believed him good, 

 The truth lay doubtless 'twixt the two ; 

 He reconciled as best he could 

 Old faith and fancies new. 



• • • • • • 



" He loved his friends, forgave his foes; 

 And, if his words were harsh at times, 

 He spared his fellow men, — his blows 

 Fell only on their crimes. 



" He loved the good and wise, but found 

 His human heart to all akin 

 Who met him on the common ground 

 Of suffering and of sin. 



" 111 served his tides of feeling strong 

 To turn the common mills of use ; 

 And, over restless wings of song, 

 His birthright garb hung loose! 



" His eye was beauty's powerless slave, 

 And his the ear which discord pains ; 

 Few guessed beneath his aspect grave 

 What passions strove in chains. 



• «•••• 



" He worshipped as his fathers did, 



And kept the faith of childish days, 

 And, howsoe'er he strayed or slid. 

 He loved the good old ways, — 



" The simple tastes, the kindly traits. 

 The tranquil air, and gentle speech. 

 The silence of the soul that waits 

 For more than man to teach. 



* " Ego," Poetical Works, Vol. II. p. 102. t Ibid., Vol. II. p. 116. 



