s: I took the wreath from her radiant hand,


s: I turned this dark earth to a fairy land,


s: But I wove the wreath round my tresses bright,


s: But never--oh never!--that wreath from heaven


s: Hist--Beautiful spirit! why silent so soon?


s: My soul drinks each word of thy magical tune;


s: My lyre owns thy touch, and its tremulous strings


s: Still vibrate beneath the soft play of thy wings!


s: Resume thy sweet lay, and reveal, ere we part,


s: Thy home, lovely spirit,--and say what thou art.


s: The gleam of a star which thou canst not see,


s: I traverse the earth, the air, the main,


s: And bind young hearts in my golden chain.


s: I tell of a world more bright than their own!


s: I have dreamed sweet dreams of a summer night,


s: When the moon was walking in cloudless light,


s: And my soul to the regions of Fancy sprung,


s: While the spirits of air their soft anthems sung,


s: Strains wafted down from those heavenly spheres


s: Which may not be warbled in waking ears;


s: More sweet than the voice of waters flowing,


s: Than the breeze over beds of violets blowing,


s: Fans himself cool with their tremulous play.


s: On the sleeper's ear those rich notes stealing,


s: I heard in my slumbers the ceaseless roar


s: Of the sparkling waves, as they met the shore,


s: Till lulled by the surge of the moon-lit deep,


s: And a magic spell on my spirit was cast,


s: And forms that had perished in ages past,


s: Were by Fancy revealed to my wondering view,


s: As the veil of Oblivion she backward drew,


s: And showed me a glorious vision, dressed


s: Such colours at parting the day-god throws,


s: Like a victor red with the spoils of fight,


s: To raise through darkness the banner of light!


s: Strains such as spirits in ecstasy hear,


s: When they tune their harps at the jasper throne


s: Of eternal light, with its rainbow zone;


s: And the harmony drawn from those living strings


s: Gushes forth from the fountain whence music springs;


s: But those songs divine, of heavenly birth,


s: Such sounds as I heard by that summer sea


s: Were never produced by man's minstrelsy;


s: Which rose and sank by the billowy motion


s: Of the breaking wave and the heaving ocean:


s: Now borne on the night-breeze was wafted high,


s: Through the glowing depths of the star-lit sky;


s: Now mournfully wailing, like plaintive dirge,


s: Rushed to the shore, with the rush of the surge.


s: And I saw a figure, all radiantly bright,


s: Float over the waves in the pale moonlight;


s: She moved to the notes of a magical song,


s: And the billows scarce murmured that bore her along;


s: The winds became mute--and the snowy wreath,


s: That crested the billows, looked dim beneath


s: And her glittering robes floated lightly round,


s: Like the mist that hangs on the morning cloud,


s: Ere the sun dispels, with his rising beam,


s: The vapours exhaled from the marshy stream.


s: The breeze wafted back from her forehead fair


s: Her long flowing tresses of shining hair,


s: Which cast on her features a lambent glow,


s: Like a halo encircling her brow of snow;


s: Revealing a face of such faultless mould


s: As that sea-born goddess possessed of old,


s: The morning she rose from the purple tide,


s: The queen of beauty and joy's fair bride--


s: But her cheek was as pale as the ocean spray


s: Ere it catches a flush from the rosy day;


s: And the shade of a deathless grief was there,


s: Which spake more of ages than years of care;


s: As though she had borne, since the world began,


s: Every sorrow and trial that waits upon man.


s: Such was the shadow that haunted my dream;


s: Such was the figure that rose from the stream;


s: And I felt a strange and electric thrill


s: As she neared the shore, and I heard the strain


s: That charmed into silence the listening main.


s: The desolate spirit of things that were:


s: Is heard in those realms where, in darkness hurled,


s: Lie the shattered domes of the ancient world!


s: O'er temple and tower and fortress strong,


s: When they weep o'er the form of some child of clay,


s: 'Mid the wreck of a world that has passed away.


s: The spirits of earth and air have sighed


s: And if thou canst banish all mortal dread,


s: Thou shalt view that world of the mighty dead.--


s: That song's plaintive cadence in distance died,


s: And I heard but the tremulous, mournful sweep


s: Of the night-winds ruffling the azure deep!--


s: Like the shade of care on the sleeper's breast;


s: Like hope that hangs life and death between;


s: "Lord, I thank thee! 'twill soon be day;"


s: With the smile on her lip and the tear in her eyes;


s: Whilst the breeze my crimson banner unfurls,


s: I wreathe my locks with the purest pearls;


s: I traverse the east on my glittering wing,


s: And the twilight hour like a pilgrim gray,


s: Where the young sun pillows his golden head;


s: He lifts from the ocean his burning eye,


s: And his glory lights up the earth and sky.


s: Ere the fresh tide of life has wasted low,


s: And pleasure that lightens the cares of earth!


s: In my crown of beams, in my robe of light;


s: From my fiery glance the strong man shrinks,


s: Like a babe on the bosom of earth he sinks;


s: Yet cries, as he turns from the glowing ray,


s: The brightest link in the chain of time,


s: The youngest and loveliest child of day,


s: Of the beams of day and the gems of night.--


s: And receive the sun as he sinks to rest;


s: On Nature's face--till the twilight shrouds


s: The monarch's brow in a veil of clouds--


s: Oh then, by the light of mine own fair star,


s: Receive the heaven-born steeds of light!


s: While Nature broods o'er the soft repose


s: Of the dewy mead, and the half-shut rose,


s: To thoughts more allied to heaven than earth?


s: When things that have been in perspective pass,


s: Like the sun's last rays over memory's glass;


s: When life's cares are forgot, when its joys are our own,


s: And the mild beams of faith round the future are thrown;


s: When all that awakened remorse or regret,


s: Like a stormy morn, has in splendour set;


s: When the sorrows of time and the hopes of heaven


s: Blend in the soul like the hues of even,


s: And the spirit looks back on this troubled scene


s: With a glance as bright as it ne'er had been!


s: The scattered beams from the car of day:


s: The gems which the evening has lavishly strown


s: Light up the lamps round my ebon throne.


s: Slowly I float through the realms of space,


s: As I sail through the shadowy fields of air.


s: All the wild fancies that thought can bring


s: Which involves the cradle and wraps the tomb;


s: Chilling the soul with its mystical sway;


s: Till man views the banner by me unfurled,


s: Born with the sun, the fair daughters of time,


s: Where the day is undimmed by the shadows of night,


s: But eternally beams from the fountain of light;


s: Where the sorrows of time and its cares are unknown


s: To the beautiful forms that encircle the throne


s: Of the mighty Creator! the First and the Last!


s: Who the wonderful frame of the universe cast,


s: And composed every link of the mystical chain


s: Of minutes, and hours, which are numbered in vain


s: By the children of dust, in their frantic career,


s: When their moments are wasted unthinkingly here,


s: Lavished on earth which in mercy were given


s: That men might prepare for the joys of heaven!--


s: Vision of beauty! there floats not a cloud


s: O'er the blue vault of heaven thy glory to shroud;


s: The star-gemmed horizon thou spannest sublime,


s: Like the path to a better and lovelier clime.


s: Thy light, unreflected by planet or star,


s: Still widens and brightens round night's spangled car;


s: In radiance resembling the moon's placid beam,


s: When she smiles through the soft mist that hangs on the stream.


s: Thou sittest enthroned, like the spirit of night,


s: And the stars through thy zone shed a tremulous light;


s: The moon is still sleeping beneath the wide sea,


s: Whilst wonder is keeping her vigils with me.


s: The bow of the covenant brightens the storm,


s: When its dark wings are shading the brow of the morn;


s: But thou art uncradled by vapour or cloud,


s: Thy glory's unshaded by night's sable shroud.


s: Oh whence is thy splendour, fair luminous bow?


s: From light's golden chalice thy radiance must flow;


s: Thou look'st from the throne of thy beauty above


s: On this desolate earth, like the spirit of love!


s: Where beauty reigns o'er scenes sublime,


s: Past scenes, to cheer their sleeping eye,


s: The dark green woods where linnets sing,


s: Ah, from those voiceless birds that glow,


s: To climes more dear and scenes less fair!


s: Methought last night I saw thee lowly laid,


s: Thy pallid cheek yet paler, on the bier;


s: And scattered round thee many a lovely braid


s: Of flowers, the brightest of the closing year;


s: Whilst on thy lips the placid smile that played,


s: Proved thy soul's exit to a happier sphere,


s: The moon's pale radiance on thy features cast,


s: Which, through the awful stillness of the night,


s: Gleamed like some lovely vision of the past,


s: Recalling hopes once beautiful and bright,


s: Now, like that struggling beam, receding fast,


s: Which o'er the scene a softening glory shed,


s: And kissed the brow of the unconscious dead.


s: Yes--it was thou!--and we were doomed to part,


s: The blow that levelled thee was in my heart,


s: And thrilled my breast with more than mortal pain.


s: Despair forbade the gathering tears to start;


s: But soon the gushing torrents fell like rain


s: O'er thy pale form, as free and unrepressed


s: As the rash shower that rocks the storm to rest.


s: For all this goodly earth contained for me,


s: Of bright or beautiful, lay withering there:


s: What were its gayest scenes bereft of thee--


s: What were its joys in which thou couldst not share?


s: While memory recalled each spot, where we


s: Had twined together many a garland fair,


s: Of hope's own wreathing, and the summer hours


s: Smiled not on happier, gayer hearts than ours.


s: Hearts, chilled and silent, as the pensive beam,


s: Whose shadowy glory resting on the pall,


s: Casts on the dead a sad portentous gleam,


s: And serves past hours of rapture to recall,


s: Till the soul roused herself with one wild scream,


s: As shuddering nature felt the powerful call,


s: 'Twas but a fleeting phantom of the mind!


s: I know a cliff, whose steep and craggy brow


s: O'erlooks the troubled ocean, and spurns back


s: The advancing billow from its rugged base;


s: Yet many a goodly rood of land lies deep


s: Beneath the wild wave buried, which rolls on


s: Its course exulting o'er the prostrate towers


s: Of high cathedral--church--and abbey fair,--


s: Over the ruins, which its depths enshroud,


s: The things that were, and give to life again


s: All that in dark oblivion sleeps below:--


s: Perched on the summit of that lofty cliff


s: "Which greets the fisher's home-returning bark,"


s: And the young seaman checks his blithesome song


s: Survives the wreck of ages, rising still


s: Yes--those who view that ruin feel an awe


s: Sink in the heart, like those who look on death


s: For the first time, and hear within the soul


s: A voice of warning whisper,--"Thus, e'en thus,


s: All human glories perish--rent from time,


s: And swallowed up in that unmeasured void,


s: O'er which oblivion rolls his sable tide."--


s: Such thoughts as these that moss-grown pile calls forth


s: To those who gaze upon its shattered walls,


s: Or, musing, tread its grass-grown aisles, or pause


s: To contemplate the wide and barren heath,


s: With scarce a tree or shrub to intersect


s: That fronts the ruins, on whose hoary trunk


s: The hurricanes of years have vainly burst,


s: To mar its beauty;--there sublime it stands,


s: Waving its graceful branches o'er the soil


s: That wraps the mouldering children of the land.


s: Was radiant with the hues of parting day;


s: The glorious sun seemed loth to leave the west,


s: That glowed like molten gold--a saffron sea


s: Fretted with crimson billows, whose rich tints


s: Gave to the rugged cliff and barren heath


s: Hark!--'tis the lonely genius of the place


s: Sighs through the wind-stirred branches and bewails


s: That sweeps the ivy on the dark gray walls!--


s: Wrung from the depths of some o'erburdened heart,


s: Which in life's early morning had received


s: Starting, I turned--and seated on the ground


s: And hair enwreathed with sprigs of ash and yew


s: Despair had stamped his iron seal; her cheek


s: Was pale as moonlight on the misty wave;


s: Or wildly sent their hurried glances round


s: With quick impatient gesture, as in quest


s: Of some loved object, present to her mind,


s: But shut for ever from her longing view.


s: The sun went down. She slowly left her seat


s: And cast one long sad look upon the wave;


s: Then poured the anguish of her breaking heart


s: That rose and died away upon the breeze,


s: The mournful requiem of her perished hopes:--


s: Hark! the restless spirits of ocean sigh;


s: I can hear them speak as the wind sweeps by.


s: See, the ivy has heard their mystic call,


s: And shivering clings to the broken wall,


s: The dark green leaves take a sadder shade,


s: And the flowers turn pale and begin to fade;


s: The landscape grows dim in the deepening gloom,


s: I have watched the return of my true-love's bark,


s: From the sun's uprising till midnight dark;


s: I have watched and wept through the weary day,


s: I have gazed for hours on the whitening track


s: Of the pathless waters, and called him back,


s: But my voice returned on the moaning blast,


s: And the vessel I sought still glided past.


s: The billows were tossing in cloudless light,


s: And the full bright moon on the waters slept;


s: And the stars above us their vigils kept,


s: And he promised, as gently he pressed my hand,


s: He would soon return to his native land.


s: But long months have fled, and this burning brain


s: Is seared with weeping and watching in vain.


s: And nights of sorrow have dimmed these eyes;


s: The roses have fled from my pallid cheek,


s: And the grief that I feel no words can speak;


s: I have made my home with the graves of the dead,


s: And the cold earth pillows my aching head!


s: He will come!--he will come!--I know it now;


s: He comes to speak peace to my aching heart,


s: I can hear his voice in the freshening breeze,


s: As his bark glides o'er the rippling seas,


s: And my heart will break forth into laughter and song,


s: When I lead him back through the gazing throng.


s: Ah, no--where yon shade on the water lies


s: Rolls on like the billows that never rest;


s: I will look no more on the heaving deep,


s: He will come to my dreams in the darksome night,


s: And his bark will be here with the dawn of light!


s: When the song ceased, she turned her heavy eyes


s: With such a piteous glance upon my face;


s: It pierced my heart, and fast the gathering tears


s: For thee no hope shall dawn--no tender thought


s: Wake in thy blighted heart a thrill of joy.


s: The immortal mind is levelled with the dust,


s: Ere the tenacious cords of life give way.


s: The ardent love that youthful spirits feel,


s: To one dear object; and his ship was lost


s: That should have smiled upon their bridal rite.


s: Who saw it not; and from that fatal hour


s: And still she watches for the distant sail


s: Poor stricken maid! thy best affections,


s: Thy hopes, thy wishes centred all in earth--


s: Earth has repaid thee with a broken heart!


s: Love to thy God had known no rash excess,


s: For in his service there is joy and peace;


s: A light, which on thy troubled mind had shed


s: Its holy influence, and those tearful eyes


s: Had then been raised in gratitude to heaven,


s: Nor chased delusive phantoms o'er the deep!


s: The earth, the fair earth, again is ours!


s: At my stern approach, pale Autumn flings down


s: At my glance the terrified mourner flies,


s: And the earth is filled with her doleful cries.


s: Awake!--for the season of flowers is o'er,--


s: My white banner unfurl on each northern shore!


s: Ye have slumbered long in my icy chain--


s: Ye are free to travel the land and main.


s: Spirits of frost! quit your mountains of snow--


s: Will ye longer suffer the streams to flow?


s: He ceased, and rose from his craggy throne


s: As he threw his glance o'er those realms of night.


s: He sent forth his voice with a mighty sound,


s: And the snows of ages were scattered around;


s: And the hollow murmurs that shook the sky


s: I come o'er the hills of the frozen North,


s: I have swept the shores of the Baltic sea,


s: They resisted my power, but strove in vain--


s: I have curbed their might with my crystal chain.


s: I roused the northwind in his stormy cave,


s: I sharpened his breath and gave him power


s: To crush and destroy every herb and flower;


s: The sallow leaves from the groaning bough;


s: And he shouts aloud in his wild disdain,


s: As he whirls them down to the frozen plain:


s: Those beautiful leaves to which Spring gave birth


s: Are scattered abroad on the face of the earth.


s: And curdled the streams in my stormy way;


s: I have chilled into hail the genial shower:--


s: All this I have done to increase thy power.


s: I stood by the stream in the deep midnight.


s: The moon through the fog shed a misty light;


s: And wove them in garlands and hung them on high;


s: And turned the soft dews of heaven to stone;


s: I spangled with gems every leaf and spray,


s: And I came to thee when my work was done,


s: To see how they shone in the morning sun!


s: I have borne the clouds on my restless wings,


s: And my sullen voice through the desert rings;


s: I sent through the forest a rushing blast,


s: From the desolate regions of woe and death,


s: From the crystal mountains where silence reigns,


s: And nature sleeps on the sterile plains,


s: I have brought the snow from thy mighty store


s: To whiten and cover each northern shore.


s: I woke like a giant refreshed with sleep,


s: And lifted the waves of the troubled deep;


s: I clouded the heavens with vapours dark,


s: And rolled the tide o'er the foundering bark,


s: Then mocked in hoarse murmurs the hollow cry


s: I have leagued with the North to assert thy right


s: On the land and the wave both by day and by night!


s: To wave thy white banner o'er tower and town,


s: O'er the level plain and the mountain brown.


s: I have crowned the woods with a spotless wreath,


s: I have wrapped the earth in a winding sheet,


s: All hail, mighty monarch! our tasks are o'er;


s: Thy power is confessed on each northern shore;


s: From the rock's stern brow to the rolling sea


s: The spirits of earth have bowed to thee.


s: In the cradle of Nature the young Spring lies


s: With the slumber of death on her azure eyes;


s: And we wander at will through the wide domain,


s: Which in beauty and verdure shall flourish again,


s: When she bursts from her shroud like a sun-beam forth


s: With darkness and storms for thy panoply,


s: Stern Winter, what power may contend with thee?


s: Thy sceptre commands both the wind and the tide,


s: And thy empire extends over regions wide;


s: With thy star-gemmed crown and eagle wings,


s: But thy power for a season alone is lent,


s: By the mighty Creator of thine and thee,


s: There's joy when the rosy morning floods


s: When the zephyr sweeps from a thousand buds


s: There's joy when the lark exulting springs


s: From the blossomed thorn when the blackbird sings,


s: There's joy in the swallow's airy flight,


s: When the floating clouds reflect the light


s: There's joy when the harvest moon comes out


s: When the woods return the reaper's shout


s: And the sounds that bid young hearts rejoice


s: There's joy in the dreams of early youth,


s: O'er scenes which, though drest in the guise of truth,


s: There's joy in the youthful lover's breast


s: When his trembling lip to hers is pressed


s: There's joy in the smiling mother's heart


s: There's joy when the war-worn soldier hears


s: There's joy when he treads the village green


s: There's joy in the shipwrecked seaman's heart,


s: When the morning breeze rives the rack apart,


s: There's joy when he nears his native land,


s: And he feels the grasp of the kindred hand


s: The world's stern strife, the hand of death,


s: Which marks the Christian's second birth,


s: In human hearts, how with our being twined!


s: The brightest mirror of the joys of heaven.


s: Too fair for earth, too infinite for time:


s: A seraph watching o'er Death's sullen shroud,


s: A sunbeam streaming through a stormy cloud;


s: An angel hovering o'er the paths of life,


s: But sought in vain amidst its cares and strife;


s: Claimed by the many--known but to the few


s: Who, void of passion's dross, behold in thee


s: And moon, and stars, and heavens expire,


s: Whose hand the links of time shall sever,


s: Their beauteous glances downward sending,


s: Guard the earth whilst life is sleeping.


s: Those sleepers from thy depths shall spring


s: Whilst shrinking seas repeat their strains,


s: Till heaven's wide arch repeats their strains,


s: There's a little brown house just under the hill;


s: It's not by the river, nor yet by a rill;


s: It's not on the green-sward where the gay and proud meet,


s: But it stands on the corner of Bandbarrack's street.


s: This time-honored veteran, in armor complete,


s: Has stood many winters the storm and the sleet--


s: The early spring rains and the long summer heat,


s: The wear and the tear of a great many feet.


s: It's a very small building, and plain in its way;


s: No high-toned paintings, not a thing that is gay;


s: It was built of the gun-house of Col Thayer fame,


s: During the years of the Delafield reign.


s: Then came Captain B.--he thought it all wrong


s: That such a small house should hold such a throng;


s: So out went the walls, up went the roof,


s: And thus it was altered and made large enough.


s: Then again it was altered, with the door to the south,


s: Which did very well in time of a drought;


s: Then Lieutenant G., he thought it to better--


s: He changed it a little, but not to the letter.


s: It was painted without and papered within;


s: The roof now is shingles, then it was tin.


s: So down went the stove and up went a heater,


s: A thing which, indeed, was very much neater.


s: Again it's been altered, just right, it's confess't,


s: For the door has gone back again into the west.


s: The east end's been paneled, and looks very good;


s: The door has been covered with a very nice hood;


s: And thus it's been altered again and again;


s: This time it was altered to keep off the rain.


s: This little brown house, so dear to each heart,


s: So famous in history, so free from all art--


s: Our hearts with emotion always will thrill


s: When we think of the chapel under the hill.


s: But where are the loved ones we met here of yore?


s: Their forms and their faces we'll see nevermore;


s: Their loud, cheery laugh and swift-coming feet


s: No more in the Sabbath-school ever to greet.


s: Some have launched out on the world's busy tide,


s: Some on the frontier, wading through strife,


s: With the musketry's rattle and the wild scalper's knife.


s: Some by the camp-fires, with their minds on the rack,


s: Eating salt pork with a little hard-tack,


s: Or asleep on the ground without any cover.


s: From the falls of Missouri, with its loud, maddening roar,


s: To the slopes of Pacific, an ever-green shore,


s: To the Atlantic Ocean, with a coast sand-bound,


s: There some of my boys are sure to be found.


s: To the northward, to the westward, and fair, sunny south,


s: Like the dove with the olive-branch of peace in its mouth,


s: Thus they've gone forth their garlands to weave,


s: When they get through they'll return with the sheaves.


s: Some on the Lone Star, quite at their ease,


s: Eating their rations, doing just as they please,


s: Basking in sunshine among the sweet flowers,


s: From Puget's Sound to Maine's cold sand,


s: O'er the hilltops, through the valleys, never to lag,


s: Not a spot on this land but they've planted the flag.


s: With their white hands folded on their breast.


s: On the banks of the Hudson there to sleep,


s: While the moon and stars their vigils keep.


s: And poured forth what their spirits felt,


s: May this little brown house, of good constitution,


s: Built on the classic grounds of the old Revolution,


s: The Stars and the Stripes, the blue and cadet grey,


s: Be the last things to perish when time's passed away.


s: _Lines addressed to the Fourth Class of '78-'79._


s: To the young gentlemen that are here with us now--


s: Now listen, young men; take heed what I say;


s: Be true to your trust and your old Alma Mater;


s: Lean firm on that arm, you'll need nothing better:


s: And to the young gentlemen of the Tenth Section,


s: Flee to the Fourth--in it there's protection.


s: Perhaps that will do, but the Ninth, I am told,


s: Will send the young gentlemen out in the cold.


s: There are three honest men of old cadet fame--


s: Phil, Math and Chem, I think is their name.


s: These three honest fellows are all very bold,


s: And are sure to kick somebody out of the fold;


s: Then off goes the trimmings, and away goes the grey,


s: And then you are told to get out of the way.


s: Then you'll think of Flirtation and old Gee's rock,


s: And the place where you sat with your Sweet Four O'clock;


s: Then you'll think of the taffy made over the gas,


s: Of the butter and sugar you hived from the mess.


s: Now when to the blackboard for trial you stand,


s: Keep steady, be ready, your chalk in your hand.


s: Don't think of failing; stand well on your ground;


s: Don't let it be said--a man has been found.


s: This poem is respectfully dedicated to the Corps of Cadets, by


s: Hark! what's that that bursts on the midnight air?


s: "The Cadets are loose," said a lady fair.


s: "Cadets loose?" echoed her puzzled spouse,


s: As he rose in haste and donned his clothes.


s: Just at this juncture came pouring forth


s: And chased the moonbeams out of the way,


s: Rockets, Roman Candles and Blue Lights clear,


s: With the booming of cannon and grand "fish-horn"


s: What means this noise and running around,


s: Looking for something that's not to be found?


s: For every door was relieved of its handle


s: By some friend, of course, surely not by a vandal,


s: To keep intruders who were stalking around


s: From wakening the boys who were sleeping so sound,


s: Dreaming of fish-horns and other such things


s: That Santa Claus always to the children brings.


s: And a voice calls out, "Bring me an axe!"


s: And on his near neighbor he levied the tax.


s: I'll let him see, thought the neighbor, who'll lift the latch,


s: As he handed him out the innocent match;


s: The reason was this, St. Nick had been busy an hour or more,


s: And that was the reason he'd fastened the door.


s: 'Tis the midnight hour; the Long Roll has beat,


s: And brought every boy in a jiff to his feet,


s: In the area of the Barracks, on the cold, damp ground,


s: Except the little fellow who was locked in his room


s: By some naughty boy, and of course could not come.


s: From the hall-ways came running, all loose to be sure,


s: Every boy, in a hurry his place to secure,


s: And there on the cold ground, in the night air to stand,


s: While the searchers were looking for things contraband.


s: In a room two Rockets were picked up by a scout,


s: That Santa Claus dropped as he made his way out.


s: While up in the cockloft, so cosy and snug,


s: Lay the old brass cannon, like a "bug in a rug,"


s: Where Santa Claus left it to be raised up higher,


s: And then, after all, the old thing hung fire.


s: What can be the matter? what's all this about?


s: That every boy from his bed is turned out


s: With nought on his feet but his old Reveilles?


s: Still as the bell in the old clock tower;


s: The scouts and the searchers have all done their best,


s: And the boys are allowed to return to their rest,


s: And all tumble into their little cot beds,


s: While visions of "Calling Day" float through their heads,


s: Sleeping and snoring like other good boys,


s: For Santa Claus had filled all their stockings with toys.


s: But lo! from the roof comes a thundering noise,


s: That old brass cannon had crept out of its lair,


s: In the Grand Celebration determined to share.


s: From the roof of the Barracks dark and gray


s: To let them know there was nothing to fear;


s: And into his sleigh had skipped with a jerk;


s: As he rode out of sight he cried "Happy New Year."


s: With Engravings by Hartwell, from Designs by Billings.


s: Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1848, by ALONZO


s: Had brought once more her gift of flowers,


s: Filled with bright dew drops, every one;


s: The ramblers, when they reached the brink,


s: Stepped down to bathe, and take a drink.


s: They washed and smoothed each glossy feather,


s: Then said, "let's have a swim together!"


s: The Ducks were pleased; they knew them all,


s: They thought their music quite the thing.


s: "And now," said they, "we will draw near,"


s: "My friends," said he, "I'm rather hoarse,


s: But as these Ducks have joined our band,


s: There is, I'm told, a land called France,


s: The Ducks, while listening to this tale,


s: _Bowed, coughed_, and then began to speak.


s: Our proud Drake turned, in great surprise,


s: While grave rebuke flashed from his eyes.


s: You'll meet with cares and trials harsh;


s: The dew, o'er flowers and trees was flung,


s: For let me tell you, friends and brothers,


s: Then Patience whispers, (pray regard her,)


s: Your lot though hard, might still be harder.


s: Although it makes our heart-strings quiver,


s: The Ducks then smoothed each ruffled feather,


s: And stretched themselves high on their toes;


s: They gave their friends three parting cheers!


s: Our homes with cheerful tones shall ring,


s: They stopped; each folded his green dress


s: Shook hands all round, and said "good day,"


s: is usually capitalized, not all of them are, and I have left


s: the uncapitalized words as is.  Finally, in the original text,


s: the verse was printed with regular type, while the prose was


s: italicized.  I have not indicated these differences for this


s: In this Threnody and Birth-song of the Elements, written in


s: California some five years ago, I have striven to capture


s: and present some of the chief-factors and phases of the


s: eternal drama of Life and Death in the Universe. These powers,


s: elements and agents I have endowed with human attributes


s: and human emotions as though it were Man himself who uttered


s: The actors in this cosmic masque or pageant of the planets


s: are the Sun, the Moon and the Earth with her four Elements;


s: for stage there is the limitless background of Time and


s: Space, and the audience may be conceived as being represented


s: by Immanent Nature. Creation and Dissolution are her ministers,


s: twin forces of that divine everlasting Energy which brings


s: to pass the cycles of the Eternal Recurrence.


s: The action takes its course with a certain regard for the


s: laws and revelations of Science, but this compliance is only


s: such as poetry need observe. Despite the inherent and mystic


s: majesty of Matter,--too commonly reviled!--fantasy must have


s: leave, in such a work, to force its way past the barrier of


s: Whether the action begin with the impulse of Dissolution or


s: with that of Creation does not in any way affect the essentials


s: of the plan. The alternations of Life and Death, of Cosmic Night


s: and Day, must inevitably follow and destroy each other, like


s: the serpents in the ancient symbol. Yet I thought it desirable


s: to end this work with the larger and salient note of hope and


s: joy that rings out of the Birth that is Re-birth rather than with


s: The song of the Spirit of Chaos is heard on high above the aged


s: The Sun hangs in the black wastes below. His dazzling beams are


s: shorn away. He glows, but dimly, like an ember, with a red and


s: In the dark, all-surrounding void new constellations gleam on the


s: The spirit of Chaos, from her uncharted tracts, summons her


s: ministrant powers of Death and Change. She beholds them blight


s: the worlds. Her presence enfolds destroyers and destroyed as with


s: The dusks and damps of dissolution spread out their lethal and


s: The voice of the Spirit, like spheral music, flows out of the


s: The orbs listen and are filled with a miraculous consciousness


s: THE staring vessels of these worlds no wine


s: Of Life refills, no seeds of potent change.


s: So may Death's pale and lingering weeds entwine


s: These hollow globes that still unhindered range


s: Through Heaven. O famished Time! thy jaws devour


s: The suns and slumbers of the broken spheres,


s: Whose knell young stars have heard, whose rounded hour


s: Strikes, and is buried in thy bourneless years.


s: Like sullen embers in remorseless Night,


s: Like flowers with'ring when the Winter creeps


s: With iron dews their little lives to blight.


s: I stand whose ne'er-sealed eyes the birth behold


s: Of worlds dream-born,--their fiery infant clime,


s: Their teeming life, their epochs gray and cold,


s: Peace kiss and blot their tarnished light and close


s: Their leaden urns with gentleness. I shed


s: The ashes of my silence on their snows,--


s: Then waft them to my kingdoms of the dead.


s: Through the doomed Sun runs a tremor from core to crust. There is


s: His vassal globes roll on, disturbed and bleak.


s: The Lord of Day shakes upon his central seat and turns up his


s: And now is heard the voice of the Sun in agony:


s: Oh, in long-promised slumbers once to lie


s: And feel the films of sleep mine eyelids close!


s: Oh, once to lave my burning head in Night--


s: Blest Night! my planets joy thee--every one!


s: Perish, fatigueless Fire! and thou, O Light!


s: Vanish. Go leave your emperor, your Sun!


s: For I am done with blessings scattered wide


s: Throughout the waste, oppressive Universe,


s: And yonder fading Earth-globe, once my bride,


s: No more she smiles for me, no more my rays


s: Urge on her frozen roots to coloured bloom,


s: No clouds enrobe her nakedness--her days,


s: Once golden in the dance, are bent on doom.


s: A loathing throngs the vision, and the face


s: Of Man is stone and ashen, fallen supine.


s: How long with Light and Love I warmed his race!


s: Now iron crowns of Ruin and Death be mine.


s: The Earth-orb and her four elements are locked in the arms of


s: The saddest of all her twilights has fallen and is moving on


s: Life, be it of man, or beast, or flower, is slowly quenched, as a


s: The haunts and habitations of men have vanished; they are not any


s: Every hour of Earth is an eon and her day has yet many hours.


s: NOT now thy beams arouse me morn by morn,


s: O Sun! as when my flesh was warm and young.


s: Out of our love what children fair were born


s: To rapture! ere thy last wild song was sung.


s: I deem thy day is Night and thou the Moon--


s: So feeble is thy kiss, so cold thy light,--


s: Lamp of my life, alas!--how soon, how soon--


s: O speak! comes thy last greeting and good-night?


s: My breasts are sere as sand, no flowers bloom,


s: No grass, no forests hide my misery bare;


s: The reaches of the tyrannous poles consume


s: Those gardens of delight we made so fair,


s: And men lie dark in caves, a sullen race,


s: Framed of ray daughter's flesh but now my bane,


s: Yet shall I not withdraw my patient face,


s: Nor tomb them in my hollow caves of pain.


s: Soon shall I creep no more about thee, orb


s: Of Heaven, for all my thews grow stark and dry.


s: When the years drag me to my end--absorb,


s: A song fours down from the skies, a plangent song of triumph from


s: She sings for her who perished long ago. Her voice is flung


s: The Phantasm turns the ashen sphere about the rusted poles.


s: The mystery of the Moons invisible hemisphere is now revealed.


s: THEY are dying! all are dying! Night shall force


s: Us headlong through her shoreless regions blind.


s: Then must I, an empty lamp, around the corse


s: Of Earth my dark, unending spirals wind.


s: I loved the Sun. My heart was molten stone,


s: Like Earth my face for him with beauty bloomed,


s: Ere lust and hatred scarred my every zone,


s: And passion tore my beauty and consumed.


s: They are dying! I have waited lone and long,--


s: Long have hung, a warning skull that gleamed


s: Above their feast of Life and Love;--their song


s: Is ended, and the Sun sheds blood. They dreamed.


s: Earth that called me cold and pale, grows pale and cold,--


s: Those alternating glories that she rolled


s: No more her midnight ghouls nor lovers creep


s: To curse or bless my light; my shadow crawls


s: Like some dark moth upon her. I shall sleep


s: Equal with her in death. The tyrant falls!


s: The Element of Earth, waste and inert, hears at last the cry


s: Her crests and peaks, her vales and plains, lie white and whelmed


s: The mountain ranges draw their icy shrouds over the faces of dead


s: A convulsion seizes on her granite heart, and the lips of her


s: SPRUNG molten from the fierce embrace of stars,


s: Graven by hungry seas and winds and fires--


s: Lo, my poor frame terrene with all its scars


s: Lies arid like the dross of blasted pyres!


s: Opulent fields and fruits, and forest tracts--


s: O fourfold largess of the seasons! grain,


s: Poured from my heart!--each precious living vein


s: And grass and mated creature that I gave


s: And he, my noblest offspring, whom my breasts


s: Suckled when ushered from my fertile womb,


s: Lies low in dark and underearthen nests,


s: No more, no more the joyous spring shall thaw


s: These crystal cere-cloths from my withered heart,--


s: No more shall Life his golden pageant draw,


s: Nor ever a seed shall spring nor a flower start.


s: The all-embracing and tender Air is without motion, lifeless


s: Thinner and thinner grows the element as it is drained away to


s: Meteors from the outer vast pierce, unconsumed, the canopy of the


s: What is this sound, so low, so faint, so thin? It seems like the


s: first whisper of the youngest of all the Angels, or the last sigh


s: The stark ice ribs my high and hollow cave.


s: The vortex of the World spins raptureless,


s: From sun-shot peaks of dawn no more I leap


s: O speak, Son of the West! if this be Sleep--


s: Thick torpor clouds the climes; eternal snow


s: Falling, falling, falling, throngs my realm.


s: Shall nevermore my breath o'er Ocean blow?


s: Nor wrestle with his seas that roar and whelm?


s: Nor render pure my breath for man to drain;


s: I faint within his nostrils that implore


s: My draught to rouse his drooping heart again.


s: Lies but a withered creature,--sterile, cold,--


s: Hither, fly hither! O winds who share my doom,


s: Oh, wail your dying sire whose days are told.


s: A prone and expiring giant lifts up his bulk once more and


s: His great green front and land-fettered limbs glimmer up to his


s: mistress Moon. His breast heaves unto her as of old with an


s: But a film has veiled his eyes, and now stagnation builds up


s: her muddy pillars in his heart. There Death reigns amidst havoc.


s: His leviathans and huge worms and wrecks of ships rot on every


s: shore and in his dunnest deeps amidst pearls and sea-born blooms.


s: The innumerable myrmidons of his empire, fretted masses, chained


s: The coasts he laved and swept are marred with deadly froth.


s: They are now but ruins of the vast poison-chalice of the sea,


s: This is his final anguish and these his final groans.


s: It is the last song of the sorrowing Sea!


s: Hoarsely reverberates his threnody; he piles up higher and


s: higher his tremendous tomb of sound, beneath which he shall


s: compose himself in tideless calms of sleep.


s: My mists no longer rise to robe the Sun,


s: No longer lend great rivers to the Earth.


s: Low in my deeps my broken creatures die,--


s: They die! and their corruption loads my floors;


s: Countless and cold, my lordly monsters lie


s: On league-long sands of continental shores.


s: Where bide you, O white stallions of the waves?


s: And you torrential surges,--where the crest


s: You flung on leaping mountains that you drave


s: Across your father's fields from East to West?


s: Shine forth, O Moon! unveil thee, pallid queen!


s: Heal me, as when my passion clomb to thine;


s: Shed down thy lucent drench, thy light serene,


s: Oh, lift me back to Life and Love--oh, shine!


s: My salt hath lost its virtue in men's blood


s: And o'er their hearts the marish vapour crawls;


s: Now Death o'erwhelms me with his colder flood,


s: And, prey to Time, my royal glory falls.


s: His feet take hold on Earth, but his crest rears its unhampered


s: Fleeing from Nature's frozen breast, he trends to lowest crypts,


s: swift to some final refuge, moving in leaping sheets and sinuous


s: The mouths of all volcanoes, once his throne, are choked with


s: BACK to the womb I creep, back to the womb!


s: Let snows and stagnant seas my province blight,


s: Deep down in matrix grots shall I consume


s: My mother's flesh, my spirit and the night.


s: I shall beat about her heart a few brief years,--


s: I, who once rolled fiery gold through all her veins,


s: And soared from mountain-throats o'er hemispheres,


s: And throbbed in huts and palaces and fanes.


s: What power in me abode! what loveliness!


s: The three vast elements proclaimed me king,


s: Straight from the Sun I sank with gifts to bless


s: The world with living tongue and burning wing.


s: I came, and Man sat caverned with the brute;


s: I leave him and he withers with the fruit


s: Of ages on the ground his splendour trod.


s: Farewell, you airs and skies from whence I fell,


s: Fond Earth, farewell, and all thy beauty past--


s: And thou, old pulseless Ocean foe, farewell!--


s: All dead! I too shall die, though I be last.


s: Utter silence and utter lifelessness engulf the Globe; the frozen


s: Once more is heard, sweet and clear, the voice of the Spirit


s: Her music of mercy sinks softly down like star-dust, or as of old


s: Through the infinite Universe, through Eternity, she sings her


s: She lulls her endless flocks of worlds asleep; she seals them up


s: They are swept into illimitable abysses.


s: Above, below and all about gleam vast cohorts and constellations


s: Ghosts of worlds drift by, and suns wrapped in extinction.


s: They too are floating tombs, in them too, Life, Love and Thought


s: Sepultured, until from the mighty marriage of orb with orb in


s: planetary impact shall the great rose of Existence re-unfold its


s: leaves in the light and warmth of suns new-born.


s: So follow and follow the unending successions of the Seasons of


s: DARKNESS, unconquered Darkness, spread thy tent,


s: Death, who art silent and dark, this firmament


s: Is thine, these withered worlds--Oh, take them all!


s: Pearls dead and lustreless, float back to Death,--


s: You from the sun-dust born and starry spray,


s: Life set you free and warmed you with his breath


s: A day, and Night hath fallen on that day.


s: Float back to Death, pearls dead and lustreless,


s: Onward their throneless orbs that know no beams,--


s: Blind sepulchres that hold within their stones


s: Ashes that sang and dust that shone with thought.


s: Though suns on suns emergent dash your zones


s: With lustre-floods,--no wonder shall be wrought,


s: With sister globes that weld the eternal chain,


s: You win alternate Life and Death and Life


s: Again . . . and again . . . and again . . .


s: The voice of the Spirit passes away into Immensity.


s: The unheard rhythmical suspiration of the Universe.


s: The vacant room of stars is flooded with a presence.


s: The tides of Life pulsate with the prophecy of Birth.


s: The cloud gathers about it its flowing veils and swarming foam of


s: Out of the blazing mists a new-born Sun shapes forth his awful


s: The dead are born again and the stars rejoice in light.


s: The words of the Spirit of Creation swell in a harmonious storm,


s: In flashing spirals scarring the dead Night,


s: With tongues of argent fire and crimson shrouds.


s: You bear the seed of Worlds; from you shall spring


s: Round him whose bulk enormous crowns him king


s: You golden worlds or white, you gelid Moons,


s: Each in your mountant orbit king or queen,


s: In midnights plunged or soaring in your noons,


s: Accoutred in glory male, or virgin sheen,


s: Burst forth like gems from Death's titanic tomb!


s: Vessels of Life reborn, to yield you room.


s: Rocks and their garnered ores shall form your flesh,


s: And you shall pant in flowing seas of Air;


s: You shall have boon of Waters, salt and fresh,


s: And gift of godlike Fire to make you fair.


s: Afloat in splendour, panoplied in light--the arch-pontifical Sun!


s: These shafts shall quell the surgent dark and burst


s: The walls of night that pent my circling brood.


s: Rolled twyfold in each shining cirque and arch,


s: Hailing me sire, all-quickener, lord and king!


s: And warmth, and wave my torch within the deep,--


s: Dance! purple planet-children, in my sight


s: Within this blaze of winnowed flames, you sons


s: And daughters wing'd with veils of rain and fire,


s: Hold high your mirrored Moons!--you myrmidons


s: Of meteors robed with flame--you comets dire,


s: Far-wandering lights, go seek my brother spheres


s: And yonder orbs, now basking span on span;


s: And bear me tidings if their ripened years


s: Have made them joyous with the face of Man.


s: She flings her arms and tresses of Fire to the stars, a maenad in


s: She floats, a watery globe, in the face of the Sun.


s: She urges up her writhing continents that smoke high unto Heaven.


s: And they grow green as her Seas are green. The Winds are in her


s: The stately sphere lifts up her chant, measured unto her dance in


s: Again before thee winding, O Sun, at length,--


s: At length, thou call'st me from the wintry deep!


s: With cornucopian Fire thou giv'st me strength,


s: Caresses and golden hours and grace of sleep.


s: My filial song I weave with theirs who roll


s: My sister lamps that o'er the Zodiac's scroll


s: The rapt Equator's crimson cincture holds


s: Me close; my emerald ocean-robes flow free,


s: And purple soar my mountains, folds on folds,


s: With vale and plain. My bondmaid Moon to me


s: Reveals her marbled snow in cusp and shale--


s: Whilst in my flinty womb the valiant strife


s: Of Fire proclaims me thine and bans the pale


s: In Winds that wrap my path, lo, I shall sing


s: And Life with myriad hearts in me shall sing


s: Thy glory to scan forever, and chant thy praise.


s: The wrinkled Moon, charred by the fires of her brief youth, sits


s: serene above the rose-blown round of Earth.


s: Like an aged beldam she crouches in the heavens, ashes upon


s: her head, weaving her ancient silver magic, spelling enchantment


s: She is a sybil in whom the wisdom of the worlds is garnered up.


s: She smiles and spins in sunlight and in shadow, weaving robes


s: of slumber for her mistress. She holds her shining disk on


s: Her song is such as the watchers sing that sit by the couches


s: The milk-white sister to the wine-red Earth,


s: My lord still smiles upon me, nor will shun


s: My face for hers of younger, fairer birth.


s: Though oft her fruitful beauty glides between


s: Ne'er hate her, but yield up my borrowed sheen


s: To make her hallowed nights more hallowed still.


s: Burn then, my pale and vestal flame, make fair


s: The nuptials of the amorous Earth with night!


s: My sickle reaps the lurking stars in air,


s: My argent shield hangs lucent on the height.


s: Yet he that chafes and wounds the Earthen shores,


s: And flees though she embrace--the yearning Sea,--


s: My chaster, colder kiss and mounts to me.


s: With pearls of white enchantment I bestrew


s: The happy realms where lovers hunt their bliss;


s: My ray is pale as frost and soft as dew;


s: My path is woven in snow through the abyss.


s: The ambient fluid of the Winds is born, Air is born, invisible


s: Element, felt yet unfeeling. The fissure of the lightning leaves


s: it unwounded, the destroying tempest undestroyed.


s: It is the bath of the girdled Earth, perfumed with balms and


s: essences. It is the crystal shell whereunder Earth ripens like a


s: The light Winds sing as they roll in their courses, weaving the


s: bland and passionate Airs into prophetic chords.


s: The Element stirs into harmony and musters into one universal


s: AGAIN I clasp the pure, the passive globe,


s: Her delving valleys and each granite range,--


s: The Sun and Heaven's bent azure form my robe:


s: With me the Oceans rove, the cloudlands change.


s: Once more the quarters of the world I part,


s: And part those quarters 'twixt my princely sons


s: And pennoned fowl! Let lark and eagle dart!


s: Son of the South! bring perfume, nard and spice,


s: Lade all thine amorous burdens on my gales:--


s: Thou that the Pole-star wooest, mailed in ice,


s: Let swarm thy snow-white bees upon these vales!


s: O West Wind, from each rude and swooping wing


s: Shake forth thy salty tempests, from the plains


s: Transport me healing! Golden Orient, sing,


s: And fan me with thy murmurous painted vanes.


s: O whirlwinds, rash and rude! O headlong wrath


s: Shall man yet tread you like some earthly path?


s: Shall I, your king, wear shackles like his slaves?


s: Lord of all waters, Ocean, wrapped in emerald robes, clasps


s: The flagrant arrows of the Sun shower on his glancing mail. The


s: estray Winds are wanton with his locks. His mutinous waves


s: whisper each to each, and leap and sink.


s: Desire irresistible roves within his heaving deeps. Life wields a


s: He decks his floods for the face of the Moon, and enlaces them


s: with chains of shackled pearls and bands of foam.


s: He sends his salty breath aloft and wreathes the Sun with


s: Inert in the profounds the blind bathybus lies. Fecundity flings


s: her seeds and spores into the glazed abysses, and they teem.


s: There is a heaving in the broken, sunless bottoms; the continents


s: The labour and song of the Sea begin; the billows repeat it


s: FLOW, Waters! spread afar my zones of green,


s: So I with salt baptismal waves may haunt


s: And bathe the new-sprung continents terrene,


s: Hearing my freshets and young rivers chaunt.


s: O white-armed children of mine elder waves,


s: Behold what golden lands lie in your sight!


s: Bellow! you molten thunders, in my caves,


s: You whales, gush forth your fountains of delight!


s: Dance, merfolk and mad dolphins, dance the Seas,--


s: My watery palace-halls are deep and wide,


s: And Earth hath quaffed mine emerald wine whose lees


s: Shall make her shores teem fertile. O'er my tide,


s: And mews lie dense, and pearls sleep in my breast.


s: And the slow, mountant atoll knows no rest.


s: My leman fair, the charmed Moon, bends low


s: To draw me with her webs of mute desire,


s: Pale fires of sunrise and red sunset fire!


s: Earth, the Element, mute, impassive, primal, lies shaped to


s: valley, plain and peak. Enwombed in her, the ancient vast


s: Her veins are charged with promise and birth, exhaustless


s: quickenings of her eager flesh. She drinks from rocky bowls


s: where lakes lie spread, from twining rivers and living streams.


s: She pours her virgin vigour through fields no plow has riven.


s: In darkness granite-ribbed, she prisons her mineral hoards.


s: She lies as a garment upon the Mother-sphere; her feet trespass


s: Her heart is fretted with Fire, her flanks by the Seas, her


s: In patience and sweet sufferance she lies, substance, nurse


s: Her Song is heard, a mutter of music, low yet coalescent in


s: I WAKE again!--O dauntless peaks that stand,


s: Watch-towers to all the Heavens--O vales that lie,--


s: See where I rise or stretch, the lusty land


s: Checks Seas and winnows Winds and frets the sky.


s: Deep in my vaulted heart and womb of fire,


s: And in the domes and chambers of my breasts,


s: The seeds of Life glow teeming--O Sun-king, sire!


s: Arch-quickener of Existence, gild these crests;--


s: Scatter thy warmth till harvest clothe these plains,


s: And I shall broider me in bridal dreams,


s: Yea, light my feast with blazonry, my veins


s: Leap like my crystal and tellurian streams.


s: In me bright blooms and golden fruitage blown


s: Shall mark where errant, immortal summers creep,


s: And man that is flesh of me, in every zone


s: O fixed and faithful through the seasons round,


s: The throne of Earth, her sceptre and her loom,


s: Are mine, with mute, maternal glory crowned,


s: In me all Life shall flower, all Death re-bloom!


s: Child of the Sun, unmastered and insurgent pulse of Life; breath


s: of the empyrean, seraph winged with ardours and with loveliness!


s: Comes Fire, pontiff celestial, King of Elements, errant angel,


s: He comes and takes from darkness and cold their undivided


s: Upward and onward he aspires. His crimson vans are spread against


s: of the day. His feet are a scourge across the soil; his arms


s: Co-eval with them he burns and sings with a thousand tongues.


s: A FETTERLESS, bright spirit, wing'd and pure,


s: Soul from all souls of Suns in essence bred,


s: No Life, nor plant nor creature lift its head.


s: In burning beards of comets red I float;


s: I dance with lambent torches on the stars;


s: I wash with sulphurous flame the roaring throat


s: Of peaks, and blaze beneath the thunder's cars.


s: I stamp, and with fierce searing kisses press


s: My passion on her naked flesh and thrill


s: Her hidden veins with rapture. My caress


s: Is lustral. In her lovers' hearts I creep


s: And tip with fateful coals the prophet's tongue;


s: God-like from lips of poets I sing and leap,--


s: And none shall conquer me save they who call


s: My strength to sovereign toil in craft or strife;


s: With me shall tribes of men hold festival,--


s: Cities and realms shall find me Death or Life.


s: Wind, Ember, Current, conscious Earth, the eternal weavers


s: Their year-long arcs and each season's ordained processional


s: are portioned unto them: their vassal moons also and the speed of


s: The ruddy jocund Earth presses close to the Sun, timorous of the


s: outer void, baring her bosom to his kiss.


s: Has not the inevitable and recurrent Spring of Existence come


s: unto her once again? The iron shackles of Silence--are they


s: She blooms in her resurrection; her voice is lifted in the


s: universal litany to Life. She rolls in her golden garniture of


s: beams, circling with the singing sister-spheres. Her rondure


s: floats against the distant cohorts of the constellations.


s: The ancient Spirit of Chaos swings her pitchy cressets, and


s: sinks down the starless deep on her tall catafalque of Death.


s: Rejoice, O orb vestured in beauty! Put forth thy wings, thy


s: Shall thy offspring feel dismay, knowing what light shall burst


s: So the anointed and belted spheres, re-risen from their


s: bath of silence and their sleep of time, move on companioned


s: The fingers of the Sun stroke forth a glorious strain; the


s: worlds are shawns and cymbals for his minstrelsy. The Spirit


s: of Creation pours forth her victorious baptismal harmonies.


s: Triumphantly her music daunts the firmament and echoes against


s: ONCE more the soft, terraqueous chaunt I hear


s: I mark. With puissant sceptre o'er each sphere,


s: Life thrones in music and in wonder's trance.


s: Hail! vessels solar and terrestrial, hail!


s: Whose prows shall cross the dim, celestial bars


s: Bannered with youth and lanterned with the stars.


s: What fates for ballast? by what voices grim


s: And laughters urged, your astral course I mark,--


s: Warped to what ports remote your hulks shall swim


s: Mine arms have raised you from the cosmic deep;


s: Marvellous seeds whence beauty's plants shall creep


s: His forms within the house of joy and tears,


s: And Birth shall bless and Death shall sanctify


s: Earth's passion and her pageant through the years.


s: Down the everlasting, unchangeable cope the hymnal of Life is


s: It is prisoned in the sea-shells; the flowers garner it in


s: AÏDÉ, HAMILTON (1830).                                    Page


s: Come sing, Come sing, of the great Sea-King


s: Could ye come back to me, Douglas, Douglas


s: I leaned out of window, I smelt the white clover


s: In Love, if Love be Love, if Love be ours


s: Kissing her hair I sat against her feet.


s: Lute! breathe thy lowest in my Lady's ear


s: My fairest child, I have no song to give you


s: "O Heart, my heart!" she said, and heard


s: O ye tears! O ye tears! that have long refused to flow


s: Oh, lovely Mary Donnelly, my joy, my only best!


s: Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean


s: The fault is not mine if I love you too much


s: There is no summer ere the swallows come.


s: Three fishers went sailing away to the West


s: Turn, Fortune, turn thy wheel and lower the proud!


s: We have loiter'd and laugh'd in the flowery croft


s: "What will you do, love, when I am going"


s: When along the light ripple the far serenade


s: When Spring casts all her swallows forth


s: Their songs wake singing echoes in my land.


s: Sweet and low, sweet and low                     _Frontispiece_


s: "Oh! let me dream of happy days gone by"


s: "I 've been roaming, I 've been roaming"


s: "Three fishers went sailing away to the West"


s: "When Spring casts all her swallows forth"


s: The writer of prose, by intelligence taught,


s: Says the thing that will please, in the way that he ought.


s: exquisite musical setting that a composer can invent._


s: Thou wagg'st, but I am worn with strife,


s: _That is a masterpiece, but so is this:--_


s: Holds earth aught--speak truth--above her?


s: Aught like this tress, see, and this tress,


s: _"Because, you spend your lives in praisings,


s: To praise, you search the wide world over:


s: If earth holds aught--speak truth--above her?


s: _From this highly elaborated and extended species of lyric the


s: reached, and we may say to him, as he has shouted to the Mater


s: _"Darkness to daylight shall lift up thy pæan,


s: Hill to hill thunder, vale cry back to vale,


s: And Sappho singing in the nightingale."_


s: contemplation and a peculiar austerity of tenderness find their


s: sobriety, speaks its melodious message to mankind. This sort of


s: distinguished kind of persiflage. No one has kept these delicate


s: Forgetting sorrows that have come between,


s: As sunlight gilds some distant summit high,


s: And leaves the valleys dark that intervene.


s: Oh! let me dream of happy days gone by, etc.


s: In youth, we plucked full many a flower that died,


s: Dropped on the pathway, as we danced along;


s: And now, we cherish each poor leaflet dried


s: In pages which to that dear past belong.


s: And the walls, where sleep the children,


s: Youth! her heart, whose coldness grieves,


s: Oh, lovely Mary Donnelly, my joy, my only best!


s: If fifty girls were round you, I 'd hardly see the rest;


s: Be what it may the time o' day, the place be where it will,


s: Sweet looks o' Mary Donnelly, they bloom before me still.


s: Her eyes like mountain water that 's flowing on a rock,


s: How clear they are, how dark they are! they give me many a shock;


s: Could ne'er express the charming lip that has me in its pow'r.


s: Her nose is straight and handsome, her eyebrows lifted up,


s: Her chin is very neat and pert, and smooth like a china cup,


s: Her hair 's the brag of Ireland, so weighty and so fine;


s: It 's rolling down upon her neck, and gathered in a twine.


s: The dance o' last Whit-Monday night exceeded all before,


s: No pretty girl for miles about was missing from the floor;


s: But Mary kept the belt o' love, and O but she was gay!


s: She danced a jig, she sung a song, that took my heart away.


s: When she stood up for dancing, her steps were so complete


s: The music nearly kill'd itself to listen to her feet;


s: The fiddler moaned his blindness, he heard her so much praised,


s: And evermore I 'm whistling or lilting what you sung,


s: Your smile is always in my heart, your name beside my tongue;


s: 'T is you 're the flower o' womankind in country or in town;


s: The higher I exalt you, the lower I 'm cast down.


s: O might we live together in a lofty palace hall,


s: Where joyful music rises, and where scarlet curtains fall!


s: O might we live together in a cottage mean and small,


s: With sods o' grass the only roof, and mud the only wall!


s: O lovely Mary Donnelly, your beauty 's my distress.


s: It 's far too beauteous to be mine, but I 'll never wish it less.


s: But blessings be about you, dear, wherever you may go!


s: And touch thy spirit to as soft replies.


s: Good-night!--From far-off fields is borne


s: While the ripples fold upon sands of gold,


s: I stretch out my hands; who will clasp them?


s: For the tide 's at rest from east to west,


s: And the water 's bright in a still moonlight,


s: Lute! breathe thy lowest in my Lady's ear,


s: Sing while she sleeps, "Ah! belle dame, aimez-vous?"


s: Till, dreaming still, she dream that I am here,


s: And wake to find it, as my love is, true;


s: Then, when she listens in her warm white nest,


s: Say in slow music,--softer, tenderer yet,


s: That lute-strings quiver when their tone 's at rest,


s: And my heart trembles when my lips are set.


s: Stars! if my sweet love still a-dreaming lies,


s: Shine through the roses for a lover's sake


s: And send your silver to her lidded eyes,


s: Then while she wonders at the lay and light,


s: Tell her, though morning endeth star and song,


s: That ye live still, when no star glitters bright,


s: And my love lasteth, though it finds no tongue.


s: And with white hand she touched a bough;


s: O sweet brown hat, brown hair, brown eyes


s: The dew hung frore, as her foot tripped o'er


s: On leaf and stalk, in each green wood-walk,


s: Her white bare feet went softly and sweet


s: She found a bower of the wildrose flower,


s: And I laugh and know her breasts will grow


s: O sweet dream, wrought of a dear fore-thought,


s: Grew mute to hear; as her song rang clear


s: The anchor heaves, the ship swings free,


s: And threading the eye of a yellow star:--


s: Nor shelter from storms or frosts they need;


s: There is no summer ere the swallows come,


s: Till Hope, Love's light-winged herald, lifts the gloom


s: There is no summer left when swallows fly,


s: When hopes which filled its heaven droop and die,


s: But silence falls when night-time nears,


s: The dead leaf falls, the dark boughs meet,


s: Strange shapes are stirring in the night,


s: Strange hands are laid, to feel the beat


s: And Sleep stoops down to drink thy breath,


s: Then love, while leaves are on the tree,


s: We 'll chat and rhyme and kiss and dine,


s: White-hot, indoors, the great logs gleam,


s: I think how those pure pearls become her--


s: A little trouble checks the race of joy,


s: Which the red Queen of all the garden is:


s: And Love, which lasteth but a little hour,


s: With music's soul, all praise and prayer?


s: His minstrel thou, whose brown wings fly


s: Could ye come back to me, Douglas, Douglas,


s: I would be so faithful, so loving, Douglas,


s: I 'd smile on ye sweet as the angels do;--


s: My eyes were blinded, your words were few:


s: Now all men beside seem to me like shadows--


s: Stretch out your hand to me, Douglas, Douglas,


s: As I lay my heart on your dead heart, Douglas,


s: "O heart, my heart!" she said, and heard


s: While through the sheen of the garden green


s: The round snow-bud of the thorn in the wood


s: "O heart, my heart!" she said and smiled,


s: Or a leaf I wis which the rain's soft kiss


s: "There 's not a foolish flower i' the grass,


s: While their deep joy the valley fills,--


s: Even these will leave their mountain home;


s: Where lies in happy sleep a girl so fair!


s: And cage cold fancies in a moonlight snare.


s: Hang o'er her poised; but breathe nor sigh nor prayer:


s: And let the wind sweep back your cloudy hair!


s: And star with dew the lawn her feet shall tread;


s: Ambrosial dreams with healthful slumbers wed.


s: When from her couch she lifts her golden head;


s: Leave warm 'mid the grey grass their dusky bed.


s: To carve her name--while yet 't is dark--


s: Each work demands strong hearts, strong hands,


s: Forth to the fight, true man, true knight!


s: The love that lures thee from that fight


s: That love which lifts the heart, yet leaves


s: Of right choice food are his meals I ween,


s: The wall must be crumbled, the stone decayed,


s: And the mouldering dust that years have made


s: Fast he stealeth on, though he wears no wings,


s: How closely he twineth, how tight he clings,


s: Whole ages have fled, and their works decayed,


s: For the stateliest building man can raise


s: Ale that 's bright, and wine that 's mellow!


s: Sure poison-flowers are breathing, sweet,


s: The scent of those love-blossoms made me


s: then at sea, in 1833, and set to music by herself.]


s: And I still keep list'ning for the words


s: They say there 's bread and work for all,


s: And the springing corn and bright May morn,


s: Stoop where thou wilt, thy careless hand


s: Thou canst not tread, but thou wilt find


s: There 's crimson buds, and white and blue--


s: Have turned to blossoms where they fell,


s: When along the light ripple the far serenade


s: Has accosted the ear of each passionate maid,


s: She may open the window that looks on the stream,--


s: She may smile on her pillow and blend it in dream;


s: Half in words, half in music, it pierces the gloom,


s: "I am coming--Stalì[B]--but you know not for whom!


s: Now the tones become clearer,--you hear more and more


s: How the water divided returns on the oar,--


s: Does the prow of the Gondola strike on the stair?


s: Do the voices and instruments pause and prepare?


s: Oh! they faint on the ear as the lamp on the view,


s: "I am passing--Premì--but I stay not for you!


s: Then return to your couch, you who stifle a tear,


s: Then awake not, fair sleeper--believe he is here;


s: For the young and the loving no sorrow endures,


s: If to-day be another's,--to-morrow is yours;


s: May, the next time you listen, your fancy be true,


s: "I am coming--Sciàr--and for you and to you!


s: Like a shaft of light her voice breaks forth,


s: Fair fall the lights, the harbor lights,


s: And the voice, my dear, that rang so clear


s: I leaned out of window, I smelt the white clover,


s: Dark, dark was the garden, I saw not the gate;


s: "Now, if there be footsteps, he comes, my one lover--


s: Hush, nightingale, hush! O, sweet nightingale, wait


s: "The skies in the darkness stoop nearer and nearer,


s: A cluster of stars hangs like fruit in the tree,


s: The fall of the water comes sweeter, comes clearer:


s: To what art thou listening, and what dost thou see?


s: "You night moths that hover where honey brims over


s: From sycamore blossoms, or settle or sleep;


s: You glowworms, shine out, and the pathway discover


s: To him that comes darkling along the rough steep.


s: "Too deep for swift telling; and yet, my one lover,


s: I 've conned thee an answer, it waits thee to-night."


s: By the sycamore passed he, and through the white clover,


s: Then all the sweet speech I had fashioned took flight;


s: The western wind was wild and dark with foam,


s: The western tide crept up along the sand,


s: The rolling mist came down and hid the land:


s: "Oh! is it weed, or fish, or floating hair--


s: They rowed her in across the rolling foam,


s: But still the boatmen hear her call the cattle home


s: Three fishers went sailing away to the West,


s: Each thought on the woman who loved him the best,


s: And the children stood watching them out of the town;


s: And there 's little to earn, and many to keep,


s: Three wives sat up in the lighthouse tower,


s: And they trimmed the lamps as the sun went down;


s: They looked at the squall, and they looked at the shower,


s: And the night-rack came rolling up ragged and brown.


s: Though storms be sudden, and waters deep,


s: Three corpses lay out on the shining sands


s: In the morning gleam as the tide went down,


s: And the women are weeping and wringing their hands


s: For those who will never come home to the town;


s: And the sooner it 's over, the sooner to sleep;


s: And good-bye to the bar and its moaning.


s: My fairest child, I have no song to give you;


s: No lark could pipe in skies so dull and gray;


s: Yet, if you will, one quiet hint I 'll leave you,


s: I 'll tell you how to sing a clearer carol


s: Than lark who hails the dawn of breezy down;


s: Be good, sweet maid, and let who can be clever;


s: Do lovely things, not dream them, all day long;


s: And so make Life, and Death, and that For Ever,


s: The fault is not mine if I love you too much,


s: Such ever your graces, your tenderness such,


s: And the music the heart gave the tongue.


s: A time is now coming when Love must be gone,


s: Acknowledge our friendship, our passion disown,


s: I heard the words, _"How sweet! how sweet!"_


s: Where Pleasure beams with heaven's own light,--


s: Faith, on whose breast the Loves repose,


s: Whose chain of flowers no force can sever,


s: "Some promise from that tuneful tongue?"


s: We have loiter'd and laugh'd in the flowery croft,


s: Her voice is the dearest voice, and soft


s: By the prim box path where I felt the glow


s: And the sweep of her silk as she turned and smiled


s: The breeze was in love with the darling Child,


s: She showed me her ferns and woodbine-sprays,


s: For a glad song came from the milking shed,


s: And the green was golden above her head,


s: Sweet were the lips where that sunbeam dwelt;


s: As I gazed; and neither spoke, for we felt


s: And the darkling air was a breath of love,


s: For the sun dropt low, and the twilight grew


s: That day was the sweetest day--and we knew


s: Her Necklace lengthen'd, pearl by pearl;


s: For time, ere long, will snap the skein,


s: For the husband was far on the wild raging Sea;


s: And she cried, "Dermot darling, oh come back to me!"


s: And smiled in her face as she bended her knee;


s: For I know that the angels are whispering with thee!


s: Oh, pray to them softly, my baby, with me!


s: For I know that the angels are whispering with thee!"


s: And the wife wept with joy her babe's father to see;


s: Said, "I knew that the angels were whispering with thee!"


s: "What will you do, love, when I am going


s: What will you do, love, when waves divide us,


s: "Tho' waves divide us--and friends be chiding,


s: And I 'll pray for thee on the stormy ocean,


s: "What would you do, love, if distant tidings


s: But that heart of thine--should another share it--


s: "What would you do, love, when home returning


s: If my bark, which bounded o'er foreign foam,


s: "So thou wert spared--I 'd bless the morrow,


s: And I 'd welcome thee from the wasting billow,


s: O ye tears! O ye tears! that have long refused to flow,


s: Ye are welcome to my heart,--thawing, thawing, like the snow;


s: I feel the hard clod soften, and the early snow-drop spring,


s: And the healing fountains gush, and the wildernesses sing.


s: O ye tears! O ye tears! I am thankful that ye run;


s: Though ye trickle in the darkness, ye shall glitter in the sun.


s: The rainbow cannot shine if the rain refuse to fall,


s: And the eyes that cannot weep are the saddest eyes of all.


s: O ye tears! O ye tears! till I felt you on my cheek,


s: I was selfish in my sorrow, I was stubborn, I was weak.


s: Ye have given me strength to conquer, and I stand erect and free,


s: O ye tears! O ye tears! ye relieve me of my pain:


s: The barren rock of pride has been stricken once again;


s: Like the rock that Moses smote, amid Horeb's burning sand,


s: It yields the flowing water to make gladness in the land.


s: There is light upon my path, there is sunshine in my heart,


s: And the leaf and fruit of life shall not utterly depart.


s: Ye restore to me the freshness and the bloom of long ago--


s: O ye tears! happy tears! I am thankful that ye flow!


s: When Heaven went hand-in-hand with Earth,


s: And May was crowned with buds and flowers!


s: O! who that looked could chance but love?


s: Ne'er oped such heaven as hers can show:


s: It seemed her dear eyes might have shone


s: Where came and went love-thoughts divine,


s: Her voice, that shook my heart's red root,


s: Thrush, blackbird, linnet, without pause,


s: Of the God that governs a thousand streams?


s: Nor crowned with thought or aught beside;


s: What strength in one poor thought alone,


s: Come sing, Come sing, of the great Sea-King,


s: Who once did sweep o'er the vanquish'd deep,


s: His deck was a throne, on the ocean lone,


s: Where he scattered in fear the human deer,


s: He sprang, from birth, like a God on earth,


s: And he traversed the sea, as the eagles flee,


s: His whole earth life was a conquering strife,


s: And he died at last, by his blood-red mast,


s: Hangs charmed, and pauseth in its flight:


s: And the doves lie hushed in deep delight!


s: Look forth, my love, for Love's sweet sake!


s: Then, Sweet, uncloud those eastern eyes,


s: Dawn forth, my love, for Love's sweet sake!


s: What wealth of love thou hid'st from me!


s: Shew all thy love, for Love's sweet sake!


s: Awake!--Ne'er heed, though listening Night


s: She comes,--at last, for Love's sweet sake!


s: Who laughed till his eyes dropped brine,


s: (Love, the young man's, wise man's treasure!)


s: Drink, and fill your throats with mirth!


s: Why looks the lover wroth? the friend upbraiding?


s: Why nurse the trembling dream until to-morrow?


s: To heavenly haunts, where, clad in brightness,


s: Wilt bear her there, O Death! in all her whiteness?


s: It runneth the earth's wide regions 'round;


s: It plays with the clouds; it mocks the skies;


s: With the blue above, and the blue below,


s: If a storm should come and awake the deep,


s: But I loved the great Sea more and more,


s: And backwards flew to her billowy breast,


s: Like a bird that seeketh its mother's nest;


s: And the whale it whistled, the porpoise rolled,


s: And the dolphins bared their backs of gold;


s: I 've lived since then, in calm and strife,


s: With wealth to spend and a power to range,


s: But never have sought, nor sighed for change;


s: The sighing sound, the lights around the shore.


s: Some veil did fall,--I knew it all of yore.


s: And shall not thus time's eddying flight


s: And day and night yield one delight once more?


s: Yet sweeter far than smiles the sweetest.


s: Frowned the Violet, and pouted and mourned.


s: O for the look of those pure grey eyes--


s: The parted lips and the deep-drawn sighs,


s: And the thrilling sweet untutored praise--


s: The spring of time and life's rosy dawn--


s: Kissing her hair I sat against her feet,


s: Wove and unwove it, wound and found it sweet;


s: Made fast therewith her hands, drew down her eyes,


s: Deep as deep flowers and dreamy like dim skies;


s: With her own tresses bound and found her fair,


s: Sleep were no sweeter than her face to me,


s: Sleep of cold sea-bloom under the cold sea;


s: What pain could get between my face and hers?


s: What new sweet thing would love not relish worse?


s: Unless, perhaps, white death had kissed me there,


s: Blow, bugle, blow, set the wild echoes flying,


s: Blow, bugle; answer, echoes, dying, dying, dying.


s: Blow, let us hear the purple glens replying:


s: And answer, echoes, answer, dying, dying, dying.


s: But the tender grace of a day that is dead


s: Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean,


s: Tears from the depth of some divine despair


s: Rise in the heart, and gather to the eyes,


s: And thinking of the days that are no more.


s: Fresh as the first beam glittering on a sail,


s: That brings our friends up from the underworld,


s: That sinks with all we love below the verge;


s: So sad, so fresh, the days that are no more.


s: Ah, sad and strange as in dark summer dawns


s: The earliest pipe of half-awakened birds


s: The casement slowly grows a glimmering square;


s: So sad, so strange, the days that are no more.


s: And sweet as those by hopeless fancy feigned


s: On lips that are for others; deep as love,


s: Deep as first love, and wild with all regret;


s: O Death in Life, the days that are no more.


s: While my little one, while my pretty one, sleeps.


s: Father will come to his babe in the nest,


s: Sleep, my little one, sleep, my pretty one, sleep.


s: Turn, Fortune, turn thy wheel and lower the proud;


s: Turn thy wild wheel thro' sunshine, storm, and cloud;


s: Thy wheel and thee we neither love nor hate.


s: Turn, Fortune, turn thy wheel with smile or frown;


s: With that wild wheel we go not up or down;


s: Our hoard is little, but our hearts are great.


s: Smile and we smile, the lords of many lands;


s: Frown and we smile, the lords of our own hands;


s: Turn, turn thy wheel above the staring crowd;


s: Thy wheel and thou are shadows in the cloud;


s: In Love, if Love be Love, if Love be ours,


s: Faith and unfaith can ne'er be equal powers:


s: Unfaith in aught is want of faith in all.


s: That by and by will make the music mute,


s: Or little pitted speck in garnered fruit,


s: That rotting inward slowly moulders all.


s: But shall it? answer, darling, answer, no.


s: When Spring casts all her swallows forth


s: Through fields with morning tints a-glow


s: Where lilies float on broad green leaves


s: While still the dusk is tinged with rose


s: Like a brown cheek o'erflushed with pride--


s: Yes! while the night comes soft and slow


s: From spur to feather spotted and splashed


s: In each of their cups they dropped a crust,


s: Then drew their swords, and roared for a toast,


s: A blue smoke rose from their pistol locks,


s: There were long red smears on their jerkins of buff,


s: Then into their cups they stirred the crusts,


s: They waved their swords, and drank with a stamp,


s: Then into their cups they flung their crusts,


s: They flashed their swords as they gave the toast,


s: The gambler dropped his dog's-ear'd cards,


s: As the light of the fire, like stains of blood,


s: Then into their cups they splashed their crusts,


s: And leapt on the table, and roared a toast,


s: In their stirrup cups they flung the crusts,


s: And cried as they spurred through the town,


s: With their keen swords drawn and their pistols cocked,


s: Their scabbards clashed, each back-piece shone--


s: I watched the long, long, shade,  [_all commas as printed_]


s: _THE LONG WHITE SEAM._  [_final . missing or invisible_]


s: Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866, by


s: in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District


s: state-coaches, and wear long trains, and are every now and then


s: Wishing you merry holidays, I kiss my hand to you.


s: "God knows," said Mrs. Wilde, "and He did not make her in vain."


s: But Meggie's troubles were only begun.  When they went down to


s: "Forgive you for what, Archie?" asked Mrs. Graham.


s: I thank you--_don't_ I thank you, though!


s: Of that nice neck-tie, "rich, but neat,"


s: Nor break the white plaits with my feet.


s: Your sparkling diamond studs, like dews,


s: Or breathe love's fragrance at your feet.


s: The Lord Glenmore of the time of my story was a handsome young


s: nobleman, married to a pretty London lady, very gay and fond of


s: splendor, but kind-hearted and gentle to every one.


s: Whenever Lord Glenmore came up from London to his northern


s: "No, Charles," replied the good mother, "though I yearn for them


s: "And, mamma," broke in little Maud, "dear Lady Glenmore, and her


s: The children gathered closer about her, and were very still.


s: "While you were away, a great Lord sent for little brother, too."


s: "What for? to adopt him as his heir?" asked Robert.


s: "Yes, my son; and Ally has gone to a mansion far grander than the


s: "O mamma, mamma, I know what you mean now!--baby is dead!"


s: In the wet rice-swamps and canebrakes tall


s: Comes with the sound of breaking chains,


s: To speak brave words for truth and right,


s: intently listening to the solemn burial service, and reverently


s: cottage, as fast as his poor old limbs could carry him.


s: "Yes, darling," replied the mother, to whose heart the simple


s: "Because the Lord sent me back," she answered, gravely.


s: "Why, child, what do you mean?" he asked.


s: With a piteous cry Ruth flung herself by the side of her dead


s: As yet more God's and heaven's than mine.


s: Lord Blantyre resided principally at Blantyre Castle, on a noble


s: poultry-yard, and the pretty little houses of the gold and silver


s: "Brother Hughie," answered Lilly, blushing.


s: "I canna say, but I think we 'll play flood-time wi' it."


s: "Not my wee puss, Winkie?" cried Lilly in alarm.


s: "O, how grand that would be!" exclaimed little Bertha, her eyes


s: "Probably not," said her ladyship, pleasantly.


s: "_Do_ you think so?" asked Bertha, wonderingly.


s: "O yes, mamma, and play with Lilly and Hughie?"


s: "O!" said Bertha, looking a little disappointed; then she added,


s: Early in the morning, Lilly was brought to the Castle, and Bertha


s: "What's the matter, my bonnie leddie?" said Hughie, rather


s: "My feet smart so!  See how big and red they look."


s: Bertha thrust one foot into the water, but drew it out instantly,


s: carriage,--a two-wheeled vehicle, called a "dog-cart," drawn by a


s: comfortable.  Lady Blantyre devoted herself to her amusement; she


s: At lunch, Lady Blantyre had her little guest sit beside her, and


s: "Let me gae hame!  I maun gae hame!" (I must go home) said Lilly.


s: "So you shall, darling," replied the lady.


s: "Well, has my little daughter learned content from this day's


s: One autumn evening, as Margaret Grey rode homeward from the


s: Effie and Jamie grieved passionately over their lost friend and


s: Lord Dundale checked his horse, and looked down on his little


s: petitioner in silent astonishment, while Mrs. Grey ran out of the


s: "What _can_ the little lad mean, Mrs. Grey?" asked Lord Dundale,


s: "Arty O'Neill, may it please your lordship," was the reply.


s: "What, a son of Norah O'Neill?" asked Mrs. Marsham.


s: They looked bewildered, but waited silently and patiently for the


s: "O no," cried Arthur, "I have really suffered no wrong.  God so


s: The poor lads had never looked upon death before: they were both


s: weeping and some bravely striving to cheer them up.


s: At last these fell off, and the conscripts pursued their march in


s: Just outside the gates, on this morning, stood Count De Lorme,


s: Months went by,--months of sad anxiety to Mother Moreau and Marie


s: At length there rang over France the news of the great battle of


s: But where was Jean?  Not dead, as his friends feared.  Not buried


s: The next day, Jean generously offered to free Marie from her


s: "But, Jean, I am young and strong, and--"


s: "God and the saints will help us," interposed Mother Moreau.


s: Jean and Marie responded by silently crossing themselves; and the


s: neighboring town, from whence they were to march to Italy, where


s: officer,--the General of all the drummers."


s: "Ah, there is the great General Bonaparte!" cried Leopold, to a


s: Leopold found a battle to be something yet more awful than he had


s: In the height of the battle, Murat dashed forward in one of his


s: The next morning, Leopold found himself an inmate of the crowded


s: One day, while Leopold yet lay on his cot, forbidden to stir, and


s: "I am thankful that she did not shake my hand off altogether, my


s: "Ah, well, my child, when you get strong enough to handle the


s: In the battles of the Empire, the young lieutenant of cavalry so


s: At this time Leopold offered to return to the bride her mother's


s: "No indeed," said the old dame; "I am a poor woman, and have seen


s: "Show me the dog!" said the officer, with authority.


s: "Here he lies, your excellency," said the dame.  "We call him


s: "Ah no,--the good Christmas King, perhaps," said the little lad,


s: "Ah, _Giuseppe_! that is my name also," said the officer.


s: "Yes, General, Giuseppe _Garibaldi_," said the lad, smiling.


s: The General started, and asked how he knew him.


s: "Ah, your father, I remember him; where is he now?"


s: "Here comes more of our brave Italians," exclaimed Lucia.


s: "Why, what can such a little thing as I do?"


s: My _first_ we wish our dear ones' lives to be,


s: And all the joys and loves that Hope discloses,


s: And fairy-tales, and picnics by the sea,


s: Purses, and golden curls, and times of roses,


s: And lashes dark, to shade a beauty's glances,


s: And rides, and sails, and pantomimes, and dances.


s: My _second_ is the place where thousands meet,


s: Like ships at sea, who never meet again,--


s: Fair maids, and soldiers brave, and children sweet,


s: And ruddy boys, and silver-haired old men;


s: The surging mob, the monks' procession holy,


s: Gay bridal trains, and funerals moving slowly.


s: My _whole_, he was a Southern leader brave,


s: Whose flaming sword to Richmond barred the way;


s: 'Mid smoke and shot, he saw his banners wave,


s: Till fickle Fortune set the hero learning


s: 'Tis a long lane, or street, that knows no turning.


s: though, that it was n't in the latter part of June, that it


s: affection, and was proud of his discernment.  This was thought so


s: So now you know all I know about My Pet from the Clouds.


s: Well, dear, here goes: My _first_ is first


s: And childhood's dreams, and sinless thoughts,


s: father,--to Gustave, and Fritz, and Carl, her brothers,--but she


s: Alas, it was the same old sad story!  The father was killed at


s: Bertha's wise little head was perplexed.  There was to be a great


s: "Yes, little wife, all that the Rebels have left of me."


s: The drummer-boy's story was sad and strange but such stories are


s: But to return to the Sanitary butter,--"the little widow's mite."


s: Bertha presented her humble gift most modestly to one of the lady


s: Where mosses creep o'er the rock's stern face,


s: Which once received a like brave guest,--


s: "What, mamma!  No toys, no nuts, no candies?"


s: "Why, then, how can they wish one another a _merry_ Christmas?  I


s: Mrs. Raeburn, having heard her daughter repeat her simple prayer,


s: Amid all the joyful excitement and merry confusion of Christmas


s: unmerited misfortune, where virtuous poverty pined, and wept, and


s: The guide at last conducted her down a flight of slippery steps,


s: The woman took her pipe from her lips, and fixing a pair of hard,


s: "Who is that man?" asked Bessie, beginning to be frightened.


s: "Why, you told me your father was dead.  What makes you tell such


s: darling.  This will get me something good for Christmas."


s: "No, miss; something better nor clothes."


s: "Why, bless your swate sowl, do I look like a sick man?"


s: Patrick Magee gave a loud, foolish laugh, as he stumbled up the


s: To do the beggar-child justice, she seemed shocked at this cruel


s: After a long, bewildering, winding walk, or rather run, the two


s: On hearing Bessie's exclamation, the child stood as motionless as


s: "Why, ma'am, it seems to me I remember _all_ these grand


s: "Perhaps your mother has taken you to such houses, or you went by


s: As Mrs. Raeburn sat reflecting on the words of the child, Bessie


s: "Nor cipher, nor find places on the map?"


s: "Hymns?  Why hymns are a sort of singing prayers."


s: "Who taught you that?" asked Mrs. Raeburn.


s: To return to Molly.  The account of her dream-home and parents so


s: "Do you mean that you have been in the penitentiary?" said Molly,


s: "No," answered Molly, firmly.  "I have always had indistinct


s: expression, "The top of the morning to ye, gintlemen."


s: "These, Mr. Magee, are the best terms you offer, then?" asked the


s: "Then, Mr. Sheriff," said Mr. Morton, "you must do your duty."


s: "If I will give you a glass of good brandy, will you tell?"


s: The glass was given him, and he drained it with a sort of frantic


s: "Yes, and I have heard of Mr. Phillips; go on."


s: "How old was the child when your wife stole it?"


s: "Are Mr. and Mrs. Phillips both living?"


s: "It 's not ten days since I was towld they were, yer honor."


s: "Thank you kindly, Mr. Raeburn, but I doubt it's too late.  'It's


s: "Do you want _very much_ to go to her, darling?"


s: "I will do so; trust me," replied Mary, in a low voice.


s: When the servant came to the door, Mr. Raeburn inquired for Mr.


s: Mary started, and a new terror seized her.


s: "Not seriously ill, I hope?" said Mr. Raeburn.


s: After a plan formed that morning, Mr. Raeburn then requested the


s: "When we reached home," continued Mr. Phillips, "we found all in


s: "You have then other children?" said Mr. Raeburn.


s: "Yes, three; two boys, of eleven and nine, and a little girl, now


s: Mr. Raeburn rose and softly loft the room, passing out on to the


s: He returned just in time to see the two boys, George and Herbert,


s: "Now, my dear boys," said Mr. Phillips, "you have a task of


s: "That will do, George," said his father, with a wave of his hand.


s: "I slept in the nursery with Lilly last night, in the very bed, I


s: "O, never mind," said Mary, blushing, "look at this picture."


s: "No, no, not till you tell me when your birthday comes."


s: Mary hesitated a moment, then replied, "There were some sad


s: "O John, John, tell me!  Can she he!  O blessed God!--"


s: Of all the stories told that night, there was none to compare,


s: It calls, and through the churchyard gate


s: For permission to reprint the material in this volume, the editor


s: For "The Return" from _The Five Nations_ and for "An


s: Astrologer's Song" from _Rewards and Fairies_ by Rudyard


s: Kipling. Thanks also are due to Mr. Kipling himself for


s: personal permission to reprint these poems.


s: For the poem from _Collected Poems_ by James Elroy Flecker.


s: For the poems from _The Old Huntsman_, _Counter-Attack_ and


s: For poems from _War and Love_ by Richard Aldington and _The


s: Mountainy Singer_ by Seosamh MacCathmhaoil (Joseph


s: For poems from _Peacock Pie_ and _The Listeners_ by Walter


s: For two poems from _Poems, 1908-1919_, by John Drinkwater,


s: both of which are used by permission of, and by special


s: arrangement with, Houghton Mifflin Company, the authorized


s: For the selections from _Chamber Music_ by James Joyce,


s: Rutherford McLeod, _Amores, Look! We Have Come Through!_,


s: For poems from _The Collected Poems of William H. Davies_,


s: For the selections from _Poems_ by G. K. Chesterton,


s: For the selections from _Fires_ and _Borderlands and


s: Hodgson, the sonnet from _Good Friday and Other Poems_ by


s: John Masefield, and the passage (entitled in this volume


s: "Rounding the Horn") from "Dauber" in _The Story of a


s: For the title poem from _In Flanders Fields_ by John McCrae.


s: For two excerpts from _Strange Meetings_ by Harold Monro and


s: for the poems from the biennial anthologies, _Georgian


s: For the quotations from _Poems_ by William Ernest Henley.


s: For the poem from _Ardours and Endurances_ by Robert


s: LONGMANS, GREEN & CO., as the representatives of B. H.


s: For a poem by Edith Sitwell from _The Mother_.


s: INTRODUCTORY                                         xi


s: JOSEPH CAMPBELL (_Seosamh MacCathmhaoil_) (1881-    )


s: At its worst, it was a period of smugness, of placid and pious


s: ugliness of the immediate past, that the slogan won. At least,


s: monotony. It may indeed be something more than a coincidence that


s: possessed the three things which he said the English would never


s: forgive--youth, power and enthusiasm. But in trying to make an


s: exclusive cult of beauty, Wilde had also tried to make it evade


s: coarse, difficult, often dangerous and dirty, but splendid at the


s: hungers of man; it could not flourish only on its own essences or


s: Whistler and to proclaim the genius of the sculptor Rodin.


s: If at times Henley's verse is imperialistic, over-muscular and


s: strident, his noisy moments are redeemed not only by his delicate


s: background of dreams, politics, suffering and heroism that is


s: As to Synge's poetic power, it is unquestionably greatest in his


s: New tendencies are contagious. But they also disclose themselves


s: recovered from its surfeit of Victorian priggishness and


s: "Romance is gone," sighed most of his contemporaries,


s: That sentence (from his poem "The King") contains the key to the


s: All art is a twofold revivifying--a recreation of subject and a


s: _Livelihood_, _Daily Bread_ and _Fires_. This intensity had been


s: asking new questions. It found its answers in the war; repressed


s: emotionalism discovered a new outlet. One hears its echoes in the


s: brilliant G. K. Chesterton, the facile Alfred Noyes, the romantic


s: All of the poets mentioned in the foregoing paragraph (with the


s: chronological scheme, but it is more amplified and goes into far


s: It was not until he was almost sixty, in 1898 to be precise, that


s: With an old horse that stumbles and nods


s: The sparkles where the brook was flowing,


s: These were the things we wished would stay;


s: These were the things we wished would go;


s: Robert Bridges was born in 1844 and educated at Eton and Corpus


s: Christi College, Oxford. After traveling extensively, he studied


s: Beautiful must be the mountains whence ye come,


s: And bright in the fruitful valleys the streams, wherefrom


s: Where are those starry woods? O might I wander there,


s: Among the flowers, which in that heavenly air


s: Nay, barren are those mountains and spent the streams:


s: Our song is the voice of desire, that haunts our dreams,


s: Whose pining visions dim, forbidden hopes profound,


s: No dying cadence nor long sigh can sound,


s: We pour our dark nocturnal secret; and then,


s: From these sweet-springing meads and bursting boughs of May,


s: Dream, while the innumerable choir of day


s: The poem here reprinted is not only O'Shaughnessy's best, but is,


s: after all, the lyrical instinct had slept--not died."


s: How charged with punishments the scroll,


s: And the blackbird plays but a boxwood flute,


s: And the soul of them rose like a presence,


s: And filled me with something--some one--


s: Behold me waiting--waiting for the knife.


s: The drunken dark, the little death-in-life.


s: The gods are good to me: I have no wife,


s: No innocent child, to think of as I near


s: The fateful minute; nothing all-too dear


s: Unmans me for my bout of passive strife.


s: And, face to face with chance, I shrink a little:


s: My hopes are strong, my will is something weak.


s: Here comes the basket? Thank you. I am ready


s: But, gentlemen my porters, life is brittle:


s: You carry Cæsar and his fortunes--Steady!


s: A late lark twitters from the quiet skies;


s: Shadows rise. The lark sings on. The sun,


s: Thrills with a sense of the triumphing night--


s: My task accomplished and the long day done,


s: More thick than rain he showers his rays.


s: I will make you brooches and toys for your delight


s: Of bird-song at morning and star-shine at night.


s: I will make a palace fit for you and me,


s: Of green days in forests and blue days at sea.


s: I will make my kitchen, and you shall keep your room,


s: Where white flows the river and bright blows the broom,


s: And you shall wash your linen and keep your body white


s: In rainfall at morning and dewfall at night.


s: And this shall be for music when no one else is near,


s: The fine song for singing, the rare song to hear!


s: That only I remember, that only you admire,


s: Of the broad road that stretches and the roadside fire.


s: What wilder things than song, what things


s: Sweeter than youth, clearer than Greece,


s: All-natural things! But more--Whence came


s: His feminine _alter ego_, Fiona Macleod, was a far different


s: personality. Sharp actually believed himself possessed of another


s: poetry. Of the prose stories written by Fiona Macleod, the most


s: Oscar Wilde was born at Dublin, Ireland, in 1856, and even as an


s: Dropt from the wharf: and chill and cold


s: Seemed changed to shadows, and St. Paul's


s: Of waking life; the streets were stirred


s: John Davidson was born at Barrhead, Renfrewshire, in 1857. His


s: Then clenched her teeth and read right on.


s: The branches snatched her streaming cloak;


s: A live thing shrieked; she made no stay!


s: The blood-stained flame that filled the dome,


s: She entered heaven; she climbed the stair


s: Who is older and greater than thou, as thou


s: Thou art lost in the notes on the lips of his choir


s: So, without overt breach, we fall apart,


s: And both, from severance, winning equal smart.


s: So, with resigned and acquiescent heart,


s: Whene'er your name on some chance lip may lie,


s: Thus may a captive, in some fortress grim,


s: From casual speech betwixt his warders, learn


s: That June on her triumphal progress goes


s: Through arched and bannered woodlands; while for him


s: Born in 1859 at Preston, Francis Thompson was educated at Owen's


s: College, Manchester. Later he tried all manner of strange ways of


s: And the harebell shakes on the windy hill--


s: She knew not those sweet words she spake,


s: But there's never a bird, so sweet a song


s: Her beauty smoothed earth's furrowed face.


s: Now while the dark about our loves is strewn,


s: Light of my dark, blood of my heart, O come!


s: Leave the black tents of thy tribe apart!


s: And thou--what needest with thy tribe's black


s: (Cloud-shapes observed by travellers in the East.)