1. What ship, puzzled at sea, cons for the true reckoning ?

Or, coming in, to avoid the bars, and follow the channel, a perfect pilot needs ?

Here, sailor ! Here, ship ! take aboard the most perfect pilot.

Whom, in a little boat, putting off, and rowing, I, hailing you, offer.

2. What place is besieged, and vainly tries to raise the siege ?

Lo ! I send to that place a commander, swift, brave, immortal.

And with him horse and foot — and parks of artillery,

And artillerymen, the deadliest that ever fired gun.

What think you I take my pen in hand to record ?

The battle-ship, perfect-model' d, majestic, that I saw pass the offing to-day imder full sail ?

The splendors of the past day ? Or the splendor of the night that envelops me ?

Or the vaunted glory and growth of the great city spread around me ? — No ;

But I record of two simple men I saw to-day, on the pier, in the midst of the crowd, parting the parting of dear friends,