--He was the bard of gifts divine, To sway the hearts of men; He of the song for Salem's shrine, He of the Sword and Pen! TO THE POET WORDSWORTH, THINE is a strain to read amongst the hills, Or its calm spirit fitly may be taken Or by some hearth where happy faces meet, birds, Or where the shadows of dark solemn yews True bard and holy !-thou art e'en as one wanderer free! THE SONG OF THE CURFEW. HARK! from the dim church-tower, The deep, slow curfew's chime ! A heavy sound unto hall and bower, In England's olden time! From the fields of his toil at night, In his children's eyes make light. Sadly and sternly heard As it quench'd the wood-fire's glow, Which had cheer'd the board, with the mirthful word, And the red wine's foaming flow Until that sullen, booming knell, Flung out from every fane, On harp, and lip, and spirit fell, With a weight, and with a chain. Woe for the wanderer then In the wild-deer's forests far! Might guide him as a star. And woe for him, whose wakeful soul, With lone aspirings fill'd, Would have lived o'er some immortal scroll, While the sounds of earth were still’d. And yet a deeper woe, For the watchers by the bed, And rest forsook the head. By the dying babe her place, Yet not behold its face! Darkness, in chieftain's hall! Darkness, in peasant's cot! Sat mourning o'er her lot. For blood hath flow'd like rain, Pour'd forth to make sweet sanctuaries Of England's homes again! Heap the yule-faggots high, Till the red light fills the room! It is home's own hour, when the stormy sky Grows thick with evening gloom. Gather round the holy hearth, And by its gladdening blaze, Unto thankful bliss we will change our mirth, With a thought of the olden days. ye |