William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
Stanzas Occasioned by the Death of Dr. FranklinFrom the Freeman’s Journal, or the North American Intelligencer—May 5, 1790
T
The glory of its native wood,
By storms destroy’d, or length of years,
Demands the tribute of our tears.
Will sink, ’tis true, by slow decays;
But when its destined years are o’er,
We must regret the loss the more.
Philosopher, we must not part!—
When monarchs tumble to the ground,
Successors easily are found;
Can hope to equal such as you,
Who seized from kings their scepter’d pride,
And turn’d the lightning’s darts aside!