Fear not each sudden sound and shock, Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee. Are all with thee- - are all with thee! 84. THREE DAYS IN THE LIFE OF COLUMBUS.-Delavigne. Idem. On the deck stood Columbus; the ocean's expanse, Untried and unlimited, swept by his glance. 66 66 Back to Spain!" cry his men; 'Put the vessel about! We venture no further through danger and doubt.' "Three days, and I give you a world!" he replied; "Bear up, my brave comrades; — three days shall decide." but no token of land is in sight; He sails, He sails, but the day shows no more than the night;On, onward he sails, while in vain o'er the lee The lead is plunged down through a fathomless sea. The second day's past, and Columbus is sleeping, "Shall he perish?"-"Ay! death!" is the barbarous cry. Shall that sea, on the morrow, with pitiless waves, Fling his corse on that shore which his patient eye craves? The corse of an humble adventurer, then; One day later,- Columbus, the first among men! But hush! he is dreaming!—A veil on the main, At the distant horizon, is parted in twain, And now, on his dreaming eye.-rapturous sight! Fresh bursts the New World from the darkness of night! O vision of glory! how dazzling it seems! How glistens the verdure! how sparkle the streams! How blue the far mountains! how glad the green isles! But, lo! his dream changes;-a vision less bright Again the dream changes. Columbus looks forth, They have conquered! The People, with grateful acclaim, In his patriot heart and republican mind. Oh, type of true manhood! What sceptre or crown In Freedom's behalf, sets his mark on the age; At length, o'er Columbus slow consciousness breaks; "Land! land!" cry the sailors; "land! land!"-he awakes,He runs, yes! behold it!-it blesseth his sight,— The land! Oh, dear spectacle! transport! delight! Oh, generous sobs, which he cannot restrain! What will Ferdinand say? and the Future? and Spain? In exchange for a world what are honors and gains? 225. Moderately Slow Movement. 85. THE BARON'S LAST BANQUET.-A. G. Greene. All kinds of force, O., moderately low pitch. O'er a low couch the setting sun had thrown its latest ray, "They come around me here, and say my days of life are o'er; "And what is death? I've dared him oft before the Paynim spear; "Ho! sound the tocsin from my tower, and fire the culverin, An hundred hands were busy then: the banquet forth was spread, Lights gleamed on harness, plume, and spear, o'er the proud old Fast hurrying through the outer gate, the mailed retainers poured, On through the portal's frowning arch, and thronged around the board; While at its head, within his dark, carved oaken chair of state, "Fill every beaker up, my men; pour forth the cheering wine; "Ye're there, but yet I see you not; draw forth each trusty sword, Bowl rang to bowl, steel clanged to steel, and rose a deafening cry, "But I defy him; let him come!" Down rang the massy cup, 86. HORATIUS AT THE BRIDGE.-Thomas B. Macaulay. Idem. The Consul's brow was sad, and the Consul's speech was low, And darkly looked he at the wall, and darkly at the foe. "Their van will be upon us before the bridge goes down; And if they once may win the bridge, what hope to save the town?" Then out spoke brave Horatius, the Captain of the gate: 66 In yon strait path a thousand may well be stopped by three. Now who will stand on either hand, and keep the bridge with me?" Then out spake Spurius Lartius,— a Ramnian proud was he,— "Lo, I will stand at thy right hand, and keep the bridge with thee?" And out spake strong Herminius,- of Titian blood was he,"I will abide on thy left side, and keep the bridge with thee." "Horatius," quoth the Consul, as thou sayest, so let it be.' 66 And straight against that great array, forth went the dauntless Three. Soon all Etruria's noblest felt their hearts sink to see On the earth the bloody corpses, in the path the dauntless Three. And from the ghastly entrance, where those bold Romans stood, The bravest shrank like boys who rouse an old bear in the wood. But meanwhile axe and lever have manfully been plied, And now the bridge hangs tottering above the boiling tide. "Come back, come back, Horatius!" loud cried the Fathers all: "Back, Lartius! back, Herminius! back, ere the ruin fall!" Back darted Spurius Lartius; Herminius darted back; And, as they passed, beneath their feet they felt the timbers crack; But, with a crash like thunder, fell every loosened beam, And, like a horse unbroken when first he feels the rein, And battlement, and plank, and pier, whirled headlong to the sea. Alone stood brave Horatius, but constant still in mind; Thrice thirty thousand foes before, and the broad flood behind, "Down with him!" cried false Sextus, with a smile on his pale face, "Now yield thee," cried Lars Porsěna, now yield thee to our grace." 66 Round turned he, as not deigning those craven ranks to see; And he spake to the noble river that rolls by the towers of Rome. 66 "O Tiber! father Tiber! to whom the Romans pray, A Roman's life, a Roman's arms, take thou in charge this day! No sound of joy or sorrow was heard from either bank; |