"DEAR HOME IN ENGLAND, SAFE AND FAST, IF BUT IN THEE MY LOT BE CAST (CLOUGH)

SWEET PEace be theirs-THE MOONLIGHT OF THE BREAST

242

THE MOUNTAIN AND THE SQUIrrel.

Little bird, little bird, whither will you go?
Round about the world while nobody can know.

Little bird, little bird, whither do you flee?
Far away round the world while nobody can see.
Little bird, little bird, how long will you roam ?
All round the world and around again home.

Round the round world, and back through the air,
When the morning comes, the little bird is there.

Back comes the little bird, and looks, and in he flies,
Up wakes the little boy, and opens both his eyes.

Sleep, sleep, little boy, little bird's away,
Little bird will come again, by the peep of day;

Sleep, sleep, little boy, little bird must go
Round about the world, while nobody can know.

THE PAST SHALL SEEM A NOTHING PAST TO THEE, DEAR HOME, IF WON AT LAST."-A. H. CLOUGH.

"AN OLD PLACE FULL OF MANY A LOVELY BROOD, TALL TREES, GREEN ARBOURS, AND GROUND FLOWERS IN FLOCKS:

Bun replied,

"You are doubtless very big,

But all sorts of things and weather

Must be taken in together
To make up a year,
And a sphere.

And I think it no disgrace
To occupy my place.
If I'm not so large as you,
You are not so small as I,
And not half so spry:
I'll not deny you make
A very pretty squirrel track.

Talents differ; all is well and wisely put ;
If I cannot carry forests on my back,
Neither can you crack a nut."

[RALPH WALDO EMERSON, an American writer of great originality, but
better known as an essayist than as a poet, born 1803.]

THE WAYWARD BRAIN, TO SAUNTER THROUGH A WOOD!"-WORDSWORTH.

HOW SWEET IT IS, WHEN MOTHER FANCY ROCKS

THE MOUNTAIN AND THE SQUIRREL.

243

VERILY, I THINK, SUCH PLACE TO ME SOMETIMES IS LIKE A DREAM, OR MAP OF THE WHOLE WORLD."-WORDSWORTH.

"NO JOY SO GREAT BUT RUNNETH TO AN END; NO HAP SO HARD BUT MAY IN TIME AMEND."-SOUTHWELL.

244

"THE SEA OF FORTUNE DOTH NOT EVER FLOW

THE HUMBLE-BEE.

B

THE HUMBLE-BEE.

URLY, dozing humble-bee,
Where thou art is clime for me;
Let them sail for Porto Rique,
Far-off heats through seas to seek ;
I will follow thee alone,
Thou animated torrid zone.
Zig-zag steerer, desert cheerer,
Let me chase thy waving lines:
Keep me nearer, me thy hearer
Singing over shrubs and vines.

Insect lover of the sun,

Joy of thy dominion!
Sailor of the atmosphere;

Swimmer through the waves of air;
Voyager of light and noon;
Epicurean* of June;

Wait, I prithee, till I come
Within earshot of thy hum-

All without is martyrdom.

* The Epicureans pretended to be followers of Epicurus, and placed all the good of life in pleasure.

SHE DRAWS HER FAVOURS TO THE LOWEST EBB."-SOUTHWELL.

"TIME GOES BY TURNS, AND CHANCES CHANGE BY COURSE, FROM FOUL TO FAIR, FROM BETTER HAP TO WORSE."-SOUTHWELL.

66

WE ARE SUCH STUFF AS DREAMS ARE MADE OF."-SHAKSPEARE.

THE HUMBLE-BEE.

When the south wind, in May days,
With a net of shining haze

Silvers the horizon wall,
And, with softness touching all,
Tints the human countenance
With a colour of romance,
And, infusing subtle heats,
Turns the sod to violets,
Thou, in sunny solitudes,
Rover of the underwoods,

The green silence dost displace
With thy mellow, breezy bass.

245

"TO GILD Refined gold, TO PAINT THE LILY, TO THROW A PERFUME ON THE VIOLET, TO SEEK

Hot midsummer's petted crone,

Sweet to me thy drowsy tone..
Tells of countless sunny hours,
Long days, and solid banks of flowers;
Of gulfs of sweetness without bound
In Indian wildernesses found;
Of Syrian peace, immortal leisure,
Firmest cheer, and bird-like pleasure. .

Wiser far than human seer,
Yellow-breeched philosopher!
Seeing only what is fair,
Sipping only what is sweet,
Thou dost mock at fate and care,
Leave the chaff and take the wheat.
When the fierce north-western blast
Cools sea and land so far and fast,
Thou already slumberest deep;
Woe and want thou canst outsleep;

OUR LITTLE LIFE IS ROUNDED WITH A SLEEP. -SHAKSPEARE.

THE BEAUTEOUS EYE OF HEAVEN TO GARNISH, IS WASTEFUL AND RIDICULOUS EXCESS."-SHAKSPEARE.

"THRICE IS HE ARMED THAT HATH HIS QUARREL JUST."-SHAKSPEARE.

"THE SEAS ARE QUIET WHEN THE WINDS GIVE O'ER; SO CALM ARE WE WHEN PASSIONS ARE NO MORE."-WALLER.

THE MESSAGE.

HAD a Message to send her,

To her whom my soul loves best;

But I had my task to finish,

And she had gone to rest:

To rest in the far bright heaven-
Oh, so far away from here!
It was vain to speak to my darling,
For I knew she could not hear.

I had a Message to send her,
So tender, and true, and sweet,
I longed for an angel to hear it,
And lay it down at her feet.
I placed it, one summer's evening,
On a little white cloud's breast;
But it faded in golden splendour,
And died in the crimson west.

I gave it the lark next morning,
And I watched it soar and soar;
But its pinions grew faint and weary,
And it fluttered to earth once more.
I cried, in my passionate longing,
Has the earth no angel friend

Who will carry my love the Message

My heart desires to send?

66 WHAT STRONGER BREASTPLATE THAN A HEART UNTAINTED ?"-SHAKSPEARE.

"HOW HAPPY IS HE BORN AND TAUGHT THAT SERVETH NOT ANOTHER'S WILL!"-SIR HENRY WOTTON.