The flames rolled on. He would not go Without his father's word; That father faint in death below, His voice no longer heard. He called aloud: "Say, father, say "Speak, father!" once again he cried, And but the booming shots replied, Upon his brow he felt their breath, And looked from that lone post of death In still, yet brave despair; And shouted but once more aloud, "My father! must I stay?" While o'er him fast through sail and shroud, With mast, and helm, and pennon fair, But the noblest thing that perished there Mrs. Hemans. CLXXI. THE BENDED Bow. HERE was heard the sound of a coming foe, THER There was sent through Britain a bended bow And a voice was poured on the free winds far, As the land rose up at the sound of war: red! Arm! ere Britain's turf grows Hunter! leave the mountain chase! Leave him for a nobler prey! Let the deer ungalled sweep by, Arm thee! Britain's foes are nigh! And the hunter armed, ere the chase was done; And the bended bow and the voice passed on. Chieftain quit the joyous feast! Arm thee! Britain's foes must fall! And the chieftain armed, and the horn was blown ; And the bended bow and the voice passed on. Prince! thy father's deeds are told Give our bards a tale of thee! And the prince came armed, like a leader's son, Mother! stay thou not thy boy! And the bended bow and the voice passed on; Mrs. Hemans. 66 “I CLXXII. THE BETTER LAND. HEAR thee speak of the better land, " "Is it where the feathery palm-trees rise, And the date grows.ripe under sunny skies? Or midst the green islands of glittering seas, Where fragrant forests perfume the breeze, And strange, bright birds, on starry wings, Bear the rich hues of all glorious things?" "Not there, not there, my child!" "Is it far away, in some region old, Where the rivers wander o'er sands of gold? Where the burning rays of the ruby shine, And the diamond lights up the secret mine, - And the pearl gleams forth from the coral strand?" "Eye hath not seen it, my gentle boy! Ear hath not heard its deep songs of joy ; Dreams cannot picture a world so fairSorrow and death may not enter there; Time doth not breathe on its fadeless bloom, For beyond the clouds, and beyond the tomb, - It is there, it is there, my child." Mrs. Hemans. CLXXIII. LANDING OF THE PILGRIM FATHERS. HE breaking waves dashed high THE On a stern and rock-bound coast, Their giant branches tossed; And the heavy night hung dark The hills and waters o'er, When a band of Exiles moored their bark On the wild New England shore. Not as the conqueror comes, They, the true-hearted, came; Not with the roll of the stirring drums, · Not as the flying come, In silence and in fear; They shook the depths of the desert's gloom Amidst the storm they sang, And the stars heard, and the sea! And the sounding aisles of the dim woods rang To the anthem of the free! The ocean eagle soared From his nest by the white wave's foam, There were men with hoary hair Why have they come to wither there, There was woman's fearless eye, What sought they thus, afar? The wealth of seas, the spoils of war? Ay, call it holy ground, The soil where first they trod! They have left unstained what there they found Mrs. Hemans. THE CLXXIV. BERNARDO DEL CARPIO. HE warrior bowed his crested head, and tamed his heart of fire, And sued the haughty king to free his long-imprisoned sire ;"I bring thee here my fortress-keys, I bring my captive train, I pledge thee faith, my liege, my lord!- O! break my father's chain!" |