Part 12 (1/2)

FRANCE.

1870.

Not dead,--oh no,--she cannot die!

Only a swoon, from loss of blood!

Levite England pa.s.ses her by, Help, Samaritan! None is nigh; Who shall stanch me this sanguine flood?

Range the brown hair, it blinds her eyne, Dash cold water over her face!

Drowned in her blood, she makes no sign, Give her a draught of generous wine.

None heed, none hear, to do this grace.

Head of the human column, thus Ever in swoon wilt thou remain?

Thought, Freedom, Truth, quenched ominous, Whence then shall Hope arise for us, Plunged in the darkness all again!

No, she stirs!--There's a fire in her glance, Ware, oh ware of that broken sword!

What, dare ye for an hour's mischance, Gather around her, jeering France, Attila's own exultant horde?

Lo, she stands up,--stands up e'en now, Strong once more for the battle-fray, Gleams bright the star, that from her brow Lightens the world. Bow, nations, bow, Let her again lead on the way!

THE TREE OF LIFE.

Broad daylight, with a sense of weariness!

Mine eyes were closed, but I was not asleep, My hand was in my father's, and I felt His presence near me. Thus we often past In silence, hour by hour. What was the need Of interchanging words when every thought That in our hearts arose, was known to each, And every pulse kept time? Suddenly there shone A strange light, and the scene as sudden changed.

I was awake:--It was an open plain Illimitable,--stretching, stretching--oh, so far!

And o'er it that strange light,--a glorious light Like that the stars shed over fields of snow In a clear, cloudless, frosty winter night, Only intenser in its brilliance calm.

And in the midst of that vast plain, I saw, For I was wide awake,--it was no dream, A tree with spreading branches and with leaves Of divers kinds,--dead silver and live gold, s.h.i.+mmering in radiance that no words may tell!

Beside the tree an Angel stood; he plucked A few small sprays, and bound them round my head.

Oh, the delicious touch of those strange leaves!

No longer throbbed my brows, no more I felt The fever in my limbs--”And oh,” I cried, ”Bind too my father's forehead with these leaves.”

One leaf the Angel took and therewith touched His forehead, and then gently whispered ”Nay!”

Never, oh never had I seen a face More beautiful than that Angel's, or more full Of holy pity and of love divine.

Wondering I looked awhile,--then, all at once Opened my tear-dimmed eyes--When lo! the light Was gone--the light as of the stars when snow Lies deep upon the ground. No more, no more, Was seen the Angel's face. I only found My father watching patient by my bed, And holding in his own, close-prest, my hand.

ON THE FLY-LEAF OF ERCKMANN-CHATRIAN'S NOVEL ENt.i.tLED ”MADAME THeReSE.”

Wavered the foremost soldiers,--then fell back.