WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT. But on the hill the golden-rod, and the aster in the wood, And the yellow sunflower by the brook in autumn beauty stood, Till fell the frost from the clear, cold heaven, as falls the plague on men, And the brightness of their smile was gone from upland, glade, and glen. And now, when comes the calm, mild day, as still such days will come, To call the squirrel and the bee from out their winter home; When the sound of dropping nuts is heard, though all the trees are still, And twinkle in the smoky light the waters of the rill, The south-wind searches for the flowers whose fragrance late he bore, And sighs to find them in the wood and by the stream no more. And then I think of one who in her youthful beauty died, The fair, meek blossom that grew up and faded by my side: In the cold, moist earth we laid her when the forest cast the leaf, And we wept that one so lovely should have a life so brief; Yet not unmeet it was that one, like that young friend of ours, So gentle and so beautiful, should perish with the flowers. TO THE FRINGED GENTIAN. THOU blossom bright with autumn dew, And colored with the heaven's own blue, That openest when the quiet light Succeeds the keen and frosty night, Thou comest not when violets lean Thou waitest late, and com'st alone, Then doth thy sweet and quiet eye Blue, blue, as if that sky let fall A flower from its cerulean wall. 189 I would that thus, when I shall see The hour of death draw near to me, Hope, blossoming within my heart, May look to heaven as I depart. THE BATTLE-FIELD. ONCE this soft turf, this rivulet's sands, Were trampled by a hurrying crowd, And fiery hearts and arméd hands Encountered in the battle-cloud. Ah! never shall the land forget How gushed the life-blood of her Now all is calm and fresh and still; No solemn host goes trailing by Men start not at the battle-cry, - Soon rested those who fought; but thou A friendless warfare ! lingering long Through weary day and weary year; A wild and many-weaponed throng Hang on thy front and flank and rear. But Error, wounded, writhes in pain, Yea, though thou lie upon the dust, Like those who fell in battle here! Another hand the sword shall wield, Another hand the standard wave, Till from the trumpet's mouth is pealed The blast of triumph o'er thy grave. FROM "THE RIVULET." AND I shall sleep; and on thy side, The patter of his little feet, And graver looks, serene and high, The bow, the band, shall fall to dust; Not thus his nobler part shall dwell, THE BURIAL OF LOVE. Two dark-eyed maids, at shut of day, Bring flowers, they sang, bring flowers unblown; Bring forest blooms of name unknown; Close softly, fondly, while ye weep, And make his grave where violets hide, But we shall mourn him long, and miss What would we give to our beloved? The poet's star-tuned harp, to sweep; "He giveth His beloved sleep." What do we give to our beloved? "Sleep soft, beloved!" we sometimes say But have no tune to charm away His dews drop mutely on the hill, Ay, men may wonder while they scan For me, my heart, that erst did go And, friends, dear friends, when it shall be That this low breath is gone from me, BERTHA IN THE LANE. PUT the broidery-frame away, Though the clock stands at the noon, Sister, help me to the bed, And stand near me, dearest-sweet! Do not shrink nor be afraid, Blushing with a sudden heat! No one standeth in the street! By God's love I go to meet, Love I thee with love complete. 191 Lean thy face down! drop it in These two hands, that may hold 'Twixt their palms thy cheek and chin, Stroking back the curls of gold. 'Tis a fair, fair face, in sooth, Larger eyes and redder mouth Than mine were in my first youth! Thou art younger by seven years - Have I not been nigh a mother To thy sweetness, -tell me, dear, Have we not loved one another Tenderly, from year to year? Since our dying mother mild Said, with accents undefiled, "Child, be mother to this child!" Mother, mother, up in heaven, Stand up on the jasper sea, And be witness I have given All the gifts required of me;- Love that left me with a wound, Mother, mother, thou art kind, Thou art standing in the room, In a molten glory shrined, That rays off into the gloom! But thy smile is bright and bleak, Like cold waves, I cannot speak; I sob in it, and grow weak. Ghostly mother, keep aloof Earth's warm-beating joy and dole! Little sister, thou art pale! Ah, I have a wandering brain,- And my thoughts grow calm again. Through the winding hedge-rows green, And the gates that showed the view; Till the pleasure, grown too strong, I sat down beneath the beech Which leans over to the lane, As the speakers drew more near- What you wished me not to hear. Yes, and he too! let him stand He had claimed with hasty claim! Had he seen thee, when he swore He would love but me alone? Thou wert absent, sent before To our kin in Sidmouth town. When he saw thee, who art best Past compare, and loveliest, He but judged thee as the rest. Could we blame him with grave words, Thou and I, dear, if we might? Thy brown eyes have looks like birds Flying straightway to the light; Mine are older. Hush!-look outUp the street! Is none without? How the poplar swings about! And that hour- beneath the beech- That he owed me all esteem, I fell flooded with a dark, In the silence of a swoon : From myself when I could stand, When you met me at the door; Dripping from me to the floor; And the flowers I bade you see Were too withered for the bee, As my life, henceforth, for me. Do not weep so dear-heart-warm! It was best as it befell! If I say he did me harm, I speak wild, I am not well. Then I always was too grave, Liked the saddest ballads sung, Yet who plucks me?- no one mourns; Are there footsteps at the door? Some last word that I might say. Colder grow my hands and feet: When I wear the shroud I made, And, dear Bertha, let me keep On my hand this little ring, On that grave drop not a tear! Rather smile there, blessed one, 193 Art thou near me? nearer? so! So no more vain words be said! The hosannas nearer rollMother, smile now on thy dead, I am death-strong in my soul! Mystic Dove alit on cross, Guide the poor bird of the snows Through the snow-wind above loss! Jesus, Victim, comprehending A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. WHAT was he doing, the great god Pan, And breaking the golden lilies afloat He tore out a reed, the great god Pan, Ere he brought it out of the river. High on the shore sat the great god Pan, Till there was not a sign of a leaf indeed He cut it short, did the great god Pan, (How tall it stood in the river!) |