DISCOURSE was deemed Man's noblest attribute, And written words the glory of his hand; Then followed Printing with enlarged command For thought--dominion vast and absolute For spreading truth, and making love expand. Now prose and verse sunk into disrepute Must lacquey a dumb Art that best can suit The taste of this once-intellectual Land. A backward movement surely have we here, From manhood,--back to childhood; for the age-- 10 Back towards caverned life's first rude career. Avaunt this vile abuse of pictured page! Must eyes be all in all, the tongue and ear Nothing? Heaven keep us from a lower stage! 1846.
