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, River! River! swelling River! On you rush o'er rough and smooth Louder, faster, brawling, leaping, 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, River! River! headlong River! 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, Who could have thought such darkness lay concealed That to such countless orbs thou mad'st us blind? 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, Out of the misty eastern cave, Where all the long and lone daylight, Wrap thy form in a mantle gray, 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— When I arose and saw the dawn, 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, Thy sweet child Sleep, the filmy-eyed, Death will come when thou art dead, Sleep will come when thou art fled; 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; 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 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 |