But who are they that as a cloud And doves are hovering near; Their freight of glorious cheer? So beautiful as these; Through thy tall surging seas. No treasures like to them: Is hidden no such gem. Of men that bear away of the last dooming day. Embassage, vast and high, To man who may not die. DESOLATION OF TYRE. IT SHALL BE A PLACE FOR THE SPREADING OF NETS, IN High on the rock-embattled steep That braved the storm and flood, Proud mistress of the foaming deep, The queen of traffic stood. Enriched her gathering store; And Ophir gave the ore. And kings confessed her sway; The nations were her prey. Yea, of that city's praise And strangers came to gaze. Her boasted wealth has fled; The fisher's net is spread: And Tyria's mirth is low, Are hushed, or wake to wo! TWILIGHT SONG OF SHEPHERDS OF THE ANDES. BENEath the brow of yonder steep The tints of twilight fade: That in the valley played. Lorn in the saffron-belted west, The star of evening shines; And gems the curling vines. Secure from nightly ill; My dog is faithful still. How rich retirement's calm! Is bland contentment's balm. Fond love and peace reside; With labour doth abide. Then give me still my mountain air, My flock and shepherd's nest; The loved companion these to share, And I am truly blest. PRAYER FOR THE DEAD! PRAYER for the dead! yet pray not thou For him that in repose is blest; The calm and coffined sleeper now, Where weary travellers are at rest: Unconscious of the smile or tear, Life's blessed sympathies unknown, Thy voice falls listless on his ear Who with decay is left alone. Prayer for the dead! yet pray not thou For him that girdeth up to fly, Where waits prepared for his brow The glorious chaplet of the sky: For ever free from human ills, The billows of this Jordan trod, He'll drink the satisfying rills That flow fast by the throne of God. Prayer for the dead! yet pray not thou For dwellers 'neath the stormy cloud, O’er which mild Mercy Aing's no bow, The fainting, faithless, and the proud: For them that in their spirit-powers, And in immortal madness strong, Still buffet the unwasting hours, And shout in agony, “ How long!” Prayer for the dead! whom from their sleep Time's solemn footfall fails to wake, Whose midnight dreamings, still and deep, The judgment-trumpet may not break: Yet in whose soul, if there be shed Light from the Cross, new life begins ; They cluster round your hearths—the dead! The dead in trespasses and sins. SWEET ORB OF NIGHT! I SAW THEE RISE. SWEET orb of night! I saw thee rise In cloudless lustre o'er the plain; I saw thee climb the azure skies, With radiant splendours in thy train: I marked thy mildly pensive beam At midnight's still and hallowed hour; I watched the fitful, lonely gleam That played on yonder ivied tower. Sweet orb of night! I often love When day with all its cares is o’er, To wander in the silent grove, And there the Source of Light adore: O then, how false all else appears, While wrapt in awe thy course I view, And see thee mount the starry spheres, And tread the fields of heavenly blue! THE HOUSE OF REFUGE. Trou'st seen the boy in his bright glow of spring-like promising ; An unnamed loveless thing: Or given the fruitless sigh To promises that die. |