THE FISHERMAN. A PERILOUS life, and sad as life may be, In the wild waters labouring, far from home, For some bleak pittance e'er compelled to roam ! Few friends to cheer him through his dangerous life And none to aid him in the stormy strife: Companion of the sea and silent air, The lonely fisher thus must ever fare; Without the comfort, hope,—with scarce a friend, He looks through life, and only sees-its end! Eternal ocean! Old majestic sea! Ever love I from shore to look on thee, And sometimes on thy billowy back to ride, And sometimes o'er thy summer breast to glide: Ff But let me live on land, where rivers run,— Where shady trees may screen me from the sun; Where I may feel, secure, the fragrant air; Where (whate'er toil or wearying pains I bear) Those eyes, which look away all human ill, May shed on me their still, sweet, constant light; And the little hearts I love may (day and night) Be found beside me safe and clustering still! SONG. HERE'S a health to thee, Mary, The drinkers are gone, And I am alone, To think of home and thee, Mary. There are some who may shine o'er thee, Mary, And a few as fair, But the summer air Is not more sweet to me, Mary. I have thought of thy last low sigh, Mary, And I've call'd on thy name Be thou but true to me, Mary, And at set of sun, When my task is done, Be sure that I'm ever with thee, Mary. WOMAN. GONE from her cheek is the summer bloom, And the spirit that sate on her soft blue eye, And the smile that play'd round her lip has fled, Like slaves they obey'd her in height of power, But left her all in her wintry hour; And the crowds that swore for her love to die, Shrunk from the tone of her last faint sigh ;And this is man's fidelity! "Tis woman alone, with a purer heart, STANZAS. IN glowing youth he stood beside Calm as though nought could break its rest, And seeming, in its flow, to be When life began its brilliant dream, Its life flow'd on as calmly, too; He stood beside that stream again, THE BLOOD HORSE. GAMARRA is a dainty steed, Strong, black, and of a noble breed ; With all his line of fathers known: But blown abroad by the pride within ; And his eyes like embers glowing And his pace as swift as light: Look!-how round his straining throat Grace and shifting beauty float; Sinewy strength is on his reins, And the red blood gallops through his veins ; Richer, redder never ran Through the boasting heart of man. green: KING DEATH. KING Death was a rare old fellow ! Hurrah! for the coal-black wine! There came to him many a maiden, Hurrah! for the coal-black wine! The scholar left all his learning,— And the beauty her bloom returning, Hurrah! for the coal-black wine! All came to the royal old fellow, Who laugh'd till his eyes dropp'd brine; As he gave them his hand so yellow, And pledged them in death's black wine. Hurrah! hurrah! Hurrah! for the coal-black wine! DIRGE. LET the moaning music die, Like a lump of idle clay! They are gone who loved and-died,— They are safe from wind and weather, There is One who can forgive, Though a thousand errors ran |