Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

THE RIVER.

235

The Two Oceans.

WO seas amid the night,

Two

In the moonshine roll and sparkle,

Now spread in the silver light,

Now sadden, and wail, and darkle.

The one has a billowy motion,

And from land to land it gleams;

The other is sleep's wide ocean,

And its glimmering waves are dreams.

The one, with murmur and roar,

Bears fleets round coast and islet;

The other, without a shore,

Ne'er knew the track of a pilot.

The River.

ANONYMOUS.

R

IVER! River! little River!

Bright you sparkle on your way

O'er the yellow pebbles dancing,

Through the flowers and foliage glancing,
Like a Child at play.

River! River! swelling River!

On you rush o'er rough and smooth

Louder, faster, brawling, leaping,
Over rocks, by rose-banks sweeping,
Like impetuous Youth.

River! River! brimming River!

Broad, and deep, and still as Time,

Seeming still-yet still in motion,

Tending onward to the ocean,

Just like Mortal Prime.

River! River! rapid River!

Swifter now you slip away;

Swift and silent as an arrow,

Through a channel dark and narrow,
Like life's Closing Day,

River! River! headlong River!
Down you dash into the sea;
Sea, that line hath never sounded,
Sea, that voyage hath never rounded,
Like Eternity!

ANONYMOUS.

Sun and Shade.

HERE are no shadows where there is no sun:

THER

There is no beauty where there is no shade:

And all things in two lines of glory run,

Darkness and light, ebon and gold, inlaid.

FREDERICK W. FABER.

Night and Death.

MYSTERIOUS Night! when our first parent knew

Thee from report divine, and heard thy name, Did he not tremble for this lovely frame,

This glorious canopy of light and blue?

Yet 'neath the curtain of translucent dew,

Bathed in the rays of the great setting flame,
Hesperus, with the host of heaven, came;
And lo! creation widened in man's view.

Who could have thought such darkness lay concealed
Within thy beams, O Sun? or who could find,
While fly, and leaf, and insect stood revealed,

That to such countless orbs thou mad'st us blind?
Why do we then shun death with anxious strife ?—
If light can thus deceive, wherefore not life?

BLANCO WHITE.

TO NIGHT.

237

Light and Color.

LIGHT, everlastingly one, dwell above with the One

Everlasting;

Color, thou changeful, descend kindly to dwell among men. F. VON SCHILLER.

SWIFTLY

To Night.

WIFTLY walk over the western wave,
Spirit of Night!

Out of the misty eastern cave,

Where all the long and lone daylight,
Thou wovest dreams of joy and fear,
Which make thee terrible and dear,—
Swift be thy flight!

Wrap thy form in a mantle gray,
Star-inwrought!

Blind with thine hair the eyes of Day,

Kiss her until she be wearied out;

Then wander o'er city, and sea, and land,

Touching all with thine opiate wand—
Come, long-sought!

When I arose and saw the dawn,
I sighed for thee;

When night rode high, and the dew was gone,

And noon lay heavy on flower and tree,

And the weary Day turned to her rest,

Lingering like an unloved guest,

I sighed for thee.

Thy brother Death came, and cried,
Wouldst thou me?

Thy sweet child Sleep, the filmy-eyed,
Murmured like a noontide bee,
Shall I nestle near thy side?
Wouldst thou me ?-and I replied,
"No, not thee!"

Death will come when thou art dead,
Soon, too soon-

Sleep will come when thou art fled;
Of neither would I ask the boon
I ask of thee, beloved Night-
Swift be thine approaching flight,
Come soon, soon!

PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY.

From the Persian.

ON parent knees, a naked, new-born child,

Weeping thou sat'st while all around thee smiled;

So live that, sinking to thy last, long sleep,

Calm thou may'st smile, while all around thee weep!

SIR WILLIAM JONES.

To Sleep.

'OME, gentle sleep! attend thy suppliant's prayer,

COM

And, though death's image, to my couch repair;

How sweet, though lifeless, yet in life to lie!

And without dying, O how sweet to die!

ANONYMOUS.

CHARADE.--(CAMPBELL.)

239

Charade.-(Campbell.)

OME from my First-ay, come !

Co

The battle-dawn is nigh;

And the screaming trump and thundering drum

Are calling thee to die!

Fight as thy father fought;
Fall as thy father fell:

Thy task is taught; thy shroud is wrought:

So forward, and farewell!

Toll ye, my Second, toll!

Fling high the flambeau's light; And sing the hymn for a parted soul

Beneath the silent night!

The wreath upon his head,

The cross upon his breast,

Let the prayer be said, and the tear be shed,

So, take him to his rest!

Call ye, my Whole, ay, call
The Lord of lute and lay;
And let him greet the sable pall
With a noble song to-day!

Go, call him by his name!

No fitter hand may crave

To light the flame of a soldier's fame

On the turf of a soldier's grave.

WINTHROP MACKWORTH PRAED

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »