O'ER all the plain th' Assyrian camp-fires now I cannot know; but rapid is the speed. BATTLE SCENES. In the red darkness faintly I discern The slumbering myriads; and toward its foot Among the trees a crash I hear, a heaving of the branches. Lights --- Are thickening near the hill. Ha! now I see The battle forth. Not needed now. Their torches they cast down; Assyria's king appears. He shouts : he flies: He points towards the rocks;-he waves them on. A warrior meets him sword with sword they fight : Arabia's monarch, sure.-But both are lost,— The waves of fight roll o'er them Meantime, along the sapphire bridge of heaven, That mantled earth, the day-god's lightning steeds ATHERSTONE. Half-way had measured; yet the hard-fought field Still was contested; for, like men resolved On that one day to peril all to come To die, perchance, but never to submit The Assyrian captains strove; and, with like fire, Through the death-laden air she flew along. MARY HOWITT. THE BALLAD OF RICHARD BURNELL. PART I. FROM his bed rose Richard Burnell At the early dawn of day, Early on that bright May morning 666 When the men and maids are dancing, In the Temple's shady gardens Let me walk and talk with thee!' "Thus my Alice spake last even, Thus with trembling lips she spake, And those blissful words have kept me Through the live-long night awake. ""Tis a joy beyond expression, When we first, in truth, perceive That the love we long have cherished Will not our fond hearts deceive! |