The bride kissed the goblet; the knight took it up, So stately his form, and so lovely her face, While her mother did fret, and her father did fume, One touch to her hand, and one word in her ear, So light to the saddle before her he sprung! "She is won! we are gone, over bank, bush, and scaur; SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE: From "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” O WEDDING guest! this soul hath been O sweeter than the marriage feast, To walk together to the kirk To walk together to the kirk, While each to his great Father bends, Farewell, farewell; but this I tell He prayeth best who loveth best The mariner whose eye is bright, He went like one that had been stunned, A sadder and a wiser man He rose the morrow morn. THOMAS CARLYLE: 1774. The Sower's Song. Now hands to seed-sheet, boys, We step and we cast; old Time's on wing; And would ye partake of harvest's joys, The corn must be sown in spring. For beast and man must be fed. Old earth is a pleasure to see In sunshiny cloak of red and green; The furrow lies fresh; this year will be As years that are past have been. Fall gently and still, good corn, Lie warm in thy earthy bed; And stand so yellow some morn, For beast and man must be fed. Old mother, receive this corn, The son of six thousand golden sires; All these on thy kindly breast were born; One more thy poor child requires. Fall gently and still, good corn, Lie warm in thy earthy bed; And stand so yellow some morn, For beast and man must be fed. Now steady and sure again, And measure of stroke and step we keep; Thus up and down we cast our grain: Sow well and you gladly reap. THOMAS CAMPBELL: 1777-1844. The Battle of the Baltic. OF Nelson and the North Sing the glorious day's renown, And her arms along the deep proudly shone; In a bold determined hand, Like leviathans afloat, Lay their bulwarks on the brine, On the lofty British line: It was ten of April morn by the chime: But the might of England flushed "Hearts of oak!" our captain cried; when each gun From its adamantine lips Spread a death-shade round the ships, Like the hurricane eclipse Of the sun! Again! again! again! And the havoc did not slack, Till a feebler cheer the Dane To our cheering sent us back : Their shots along the deep slowly boom :- As they strike the shattered sail; Light the gloom. Out spoke the victor then, As he hailed them o'er the wave; "Ye are brothers! ye are men! And we conquer but to save:So peace, instead of death, let us bring; But yield, proud foe, thy fleet, With the crews, at England's feet, And make submission meet To our King." Then Denmark blessed our chief, And the sounds of joy and grief As Death withdrew his shades from the day. Where the fires of funeral light Now joy, Old England, raise! While the wine-cup shines in light; And yet amidst that joy and uproar, Brave hearts! to Britain's pride Soft sighs the wind of heaven o'er their grave! And the mermaid's song condoles, BISHOP HEBER: 1783-1826. From "The Passage of the Red Sea." Он! welcome came the morn when Israel stood |