Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.

By Amos BronsonAlcott

120 Thoreau

WHO nearer Nature’s life would truly come

Must nearest come to him of whom I speak;

He all kinds knew,—the vocal and the dumb;

Masterful in genius was he, and unique,

Patient, sagacious, tender, frolicsome.

This Concord Pan would oft his whistle take,

And forth from wood and fen, field, hill, and lake,

Trooping around him in their several guise,

The shy inhabitants their haunts forsake:

Then he, like Æsop, man would satirize,

Hold up the image wild to clearest view

Of undiscerning manhood’s puzzled eyes,

And mocking say, “Lo! mirrors here for you:

Be true as these, if ye would be more wise.”