He stood there still, with a drooping brow, and clasped hands o'er it raised; For his father lay before him low-it was Coeur-de-Lion gazed! And silently he strove with the workings of his breast; But there's more in late repentant love than steel may keep suppressed! And his tears brake forth, at last, like rain,- men held their breath in awe, For his face was seen by his warrior train, and he recked not that they saw. He looked upon the dead, and sorrow seemed to lie, A weight of sorrow, even like lead, pale on the fast-shut eye. He stooped and kissed the frozen cheek, and the heavy hand of clay, Till bursting words-yet all too weak-gave his soul's passion way. "Oh, father! is it vain, this late remorse and deep? Speak to me, father! once again!—I weep—behold, I weep! "Speak to me :-mighty grief ere now the dust hath stirred; Hear me, but hear me!-father, chief, my king! I must be heard! Hushed, hushed!-how is it that I call, and that thou answerest not? When was it thus?-woe, woe for all the love my soul forgot! "Thy silver hairs I see-so still, so sadly bright! And, father, father! but for me they had not been so white! I bore thee down, high heart, at last; no longer couldst thou strive ; Oh! for one moment of the past, to kneel and say 'forgive!' "Thou wert the noblest king, on a royal throne e'er seen, And thou didst wear, in knightly ring, of all, the stateliest mien ; And thou didst prove, where spears are proved, in war the bravest heart Oh! ever the renowned and loved thou wert-and there thou art! "Thou that my boyhood's guide didst take fond joy to be! The times I've sported at thy side, and climbed thy parent knee! And there before the blessed shrine, my sire, I see thee lie,— New Monthly Magazine. TO A SKY-LARK. BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. ETHEREAL minstrel! pilgrim of the sky! Dost thou despise the earth, where cares abound? Both with thy nest, upon the dewy ground? To the last point of vision, and beyond, Mount, daring warbler! That love-prompted strain, Leave to the nightingale the shady wood— LINES SUGGESTED BY THE DEATH OF ISMAEL FITZADAM. It was a harp just fit to pour Its music to the wind and wave ;- Who stood himself amid the brave. The first time that I read his strain I had forgot my woman's fears In thinking on my country's fame, Her colours float o'er blood and flame. Died the high song, as dies the voice Then paused I o'er some sad, wild notes, Like stars that darkened in their fall. Hopes, perishing from too much light, Like Marah's wave, to bitterness. And is this, then, the curse that clings Flings o'er the spirit's high revealing? It is it is! tread on thy way, Be base, be grovelling, soulless, cold, Look not up from the sullen path That leads to this world's idol-gold! And close thy hand, and close thy heart, And thou wilt be the thing the crowd But look thou upon Nature's face, Or worship thou the midnight sky, The silent spell of music's power: Or love, or feel, or let thy soul Pour forth thy fervid soul in song— There are some that may praise thy lays; But of all earth's dim vanities, The very earthliest is praise. Praise! light and dew of the sweet leaves, Given by vapid fools, who laud Is on the air that bears your name. And He! what was his fate-the bard! He of the Desert Harp, whose song That bore him and his harp along? That fate which waits the gifted one, And this, the polished age, that springs To die in poverty and pride; The light of hope and genius past; Each feeling wrung, until the heart Could bear no more, so broke at last. Thus withering amid the wreck Of sweet hopes, high imaginings, What can the minstrel do but die, Cursing his too beloved strings! Literary Gazette. L. E. L. D |