Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

Hail to the flag! the gallant flag, for it is victory's

own,

Though Trafalgar re-echoes still the hero's dying groan; The Spaniards dowsed their jaundiced rag on that eventful day,

And Gallic eagles humbly crouched, acknowledging

our sway.

Hail to the flag! the gallant flag! come, hoist it once again,

And show the haughty nations round our throne is on the main ;

Our ships are crowns and sceptres, whose titles have no flaw,

And legislators are our guns-dispensing cannon law.

Once more, then, hail the gallant flag, the seaman's honest pride,

Who loves to see it flaunt the breeze, and o'er the ocean ride:

Like the genius of his country, 'tis ever bold and free; And he will prove where'er it flies, we're sovereign of the sea.

WIT AND BEAUTY.
[CHARLES DIBDIN.]

As Wit and Beauty, for an hour,
The other day were jarring,
Which held o'er man superior power,
They almost came to sparring:
Cried Reason,-Wit, you're grown a fool;

You look quite ugly, Beauty;
Come, take me with you, both be cool,
Sure mortals know their duty;
To them submit,

Whether 'tis Wit

They most admire, or Beauty.

So said, so done, out they both set,

With Reason to protect 'em ; Resolv'd, that the first men they met Should to the truth direct 'em. Instant they asked a midnight throng, Who to Bacchus paid their duty; Wit, cried out they, teems in our song, But 'tis inspired by Beauty! Learn wisdom, Wit,

Like us, submit

To the sweet power of Beauty.

Cried Wit, No tricks on travellers here,
I saw you smile, you gipsy;
"Twas bribery and corruption clear,
Besides the rogues were tipsy :
Yon bard the truth will quickly hit,—
Come, Poet, do your duty;
Do you not owe your fame to Wit?
To Wit, tool! no, to Beauty.
Adieu to Wit,

When men submit

To be the slaves of Beauty.

Quaint rogue, with his satiric page,
The fellow is a lover:

If I'm condemned by yonder sage,
I'll give the matter over.
Didst not the world, say, Hermit, quit,
Imposing this hard duty,

Better to contemplate on Wit?

No, to reflect on Beauty.

Then, in fond fit,

He turned from Wit,

And squeezed the hand of Beauty.

Wit rules the mind, Beauty the heart,
Friend one, and wite the other;

Thus, cleaving to the better part,
Men leave friend, father, brother;

Hence, cried the sage, my presence quit,
Adieu, friend, know thy duty;
Then, shutting rude the door on Wit,
Was left alone with Beauty.
Since when, poor Wit,

Glad to submit,

Has owned the power of Beauty.

WHEN WOMAN PLIGHTS HER TROTH.

R. MCMURRAY.]

[Music by M. W. BALFE.

WHEN Woman plights her troth to him
To whom her heart is given,
And, to her fancy, homeliest scenes
Seem tinged with hues of heaven;
Oh, how that happy time survives
Through many an after year-
Ling'ring with long-remember'd things,
To sadden or to cheer!

Be mine that blissful hour to keep,
From trace of care or woe,
Enshrined amid those gladsome hopes
So pure an hour should know!
Nor gems I ask-nor rich attire-
Nor wealth-nor high degree;
But, oh, the truthful, constant heart
My bridal portion be!

THERE'S NO DECEIT IN WINE.

QUARTETTO.

[Music by WEBBR.]

THE mighty conqu'ror of hearts
His power I here deny ;

With all his flames, his fires, and darts,
I champion-like defy.

I'll offer all my sacrifice,

Henceforth at Bacchus' shrine,

The merry god ne'er tells us lies,
There's no deceit in wine.

ONCE UPON MY CHEEK.

GLEE.

[Music by CALCOTT.]

ONCE upon my cheek he said the roses grew,

But now they're wash'd away with the cold ev'ning dew;

For I wander through the night, when all but me have rest,

And the moon's soft beams fall piteously upon my troubled breast.

RIVER

SILENT RIVER.

that in silence windest

Thro' the meadows bright and free,
Till at length thy rest thou findest
In the bosom of the sea!
Oft in sadness and in illness,

I have watch'd thy current glide,
Till the beauty of its stillness

Overflow'd me like a tide.

Ah! thou hast taught me, silent river!
Many a lesson, deep and long;
Thou hast been a gen'rous giver,

I can give thee but a song.

Where yon shadowy woodlands hide thee,
And thy waters disappear,

Friends I love have dwelt beside thee,
And have made thy margin dear.
Friends with joy my soul remembers !
How like quiv'ring flames they start,

When I fan the living embers

On the hearth-stone of my heart!
Ah! 'tis for this, thou silent river!
That my spirit leans to thee;
Thou hast been a gen'rous giver,
Take this idle song from me.

QUEEN OF THE STARRY NIGHT.

J. E. CARPENTER.]

[Music by J. M. JOLLY.

QUEEN of the starry night! beautiful moon !
Lighting the forest and gilding the stream,
Dearer by far than the fulness of noon,

The silv'ry splendour that's shed by thy beam;
Silently pouring thy radiance on earth,

Shedding a splendour where darkness would be, Even the ruin sits smiling in mirth,

Robed in the glory it borrows from thee !

Queen of the silent realm! empress of night!
Watcher of all that lies sleeping below;
The waves, when they're bathed in thy silvery light,
Lovelier seem as they ripple and flow;
Steeping the flowers in thy mystical beam,
Tinging the leaves of the tall forest tree,
Even the earth but a desert would seem,
But for the glory it borrows from thee?
Shine on in thy splendour! thou'rt heav'n's best boon,
Mystical-eloquent-beautiful moon!

PRAY FOR THOSE AT SEA.

HON. MRS. NORTON.]

[Music by HON. MRS. NORTON.

OH, lone, and wide, and trackless,
Lies the waste and dreary main ;

By its waves dear friends are parted,
On its rocks are death and pain!
Where the long pale shores are gleaming,
What solemn thoughts may be !
Forgive the dead, the absent,

And pray for those at sea.

On land a taper burneth,

By the sick man's fevered bed,

By his side a woman kneeleth,

And in tears her prayers are said.

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »