HOPE. T summer eve, when Heaven's ethereal bow Spans with bright arch the glittering hills below, Why to yon mountain turns the musing eye, Whose sun-bright summit mingles with the sky? Why do those cliffs of shadowy tint appear More sweet than all the landscape smiling near? "Tis distance lends enchantment to the view, And robes the mountain in its azure hue. Thus, with delight, we linger to survey The promised joys of life's unmeasured way; Thus, from afar, each dim-discovered scene More pleasing seems than all the past hath been, HE sun of life has crossed the line; One after one as dwindling hours, Youth's glowing hopes have dropped away, And soon may barely leave the gleam That coldly scores a winter's day. I am not young-I am not old; The flush of morn, the sunset calm, Paling and deepening, each to each, Meet midway with a solemn charm. One side I see the summer fields, While westerly, along the hills, Ah, middle-point, where cloud and storm I bow me to the threatening gale: How hard he breathes! over the snow I heard just now the crowing cock. The shadows flicker to and fro: The cricket chirps: the light burns low: 'Tis nearly twelve o clock. Shake hands before you die. Old year, we 'll dearly rue for you: His face is growing sharp and thin. Alack! our friend is gone. Close up his eyes: tie up his chin: Step from the corpse, and let him in That standeth there alone, And waiteth at the door. There's a new foot on the floor, my friend ALFRED TENNYSON. HAT song is well sung, not of sorrow? What triumph well won without pain? What virtue shall be, and not borrow Bright lustre from many a stain? What birth has there been without travail? Lo! the Cross set in rocks by the Roman, HOPE. Has spread in the frosts, and far regions Was heard, nor has reached forth his red hands. Are finished. The star brought us morn. Be worthy, O brother, be worthy! ALAS! HOW LIGHT A CAUSE MAY MOVE. LAS! how light a cause may move Dissension between hearts that love! Hearts that the world in vain has tried, R And sorrow but more closely tied; That stood the storm when waves were rough, Yet in a sunny hour fall off, Like ships that have gone down at sea, When heaven was all tranquillity! A something light as air, - a look, A word unkind or wrongly taken, O, love that tempests never shook, A breath, a touch like this has shaken! And ruder words will soon rush in The sweetnesses of love are gone, EASON as the princess, dwells in the highest and inwardest room; the senses are the guards and attendants on the court, without whose aid nothing is admitted into the presence; the supreme faculties are the Peers; the outward parts and inward affections are the Commons. |