Part 36 (1/2)

Because of this one child thou hast no more of might, O star-girt Earth, his death yields thee not higher delight!

But, ah! the mother's heart with woe for ever wild, This heart whose sovran bliss brought forth so bitter birth-- This world as vast as thou, even _thou_, O sorrowless Earth, Is desolate and void because of this one child!

NELSON K. TYERMAN.

ST. JOHN.

_(”Un jour, le morne esprit.”)_

[Bk. VI. vii., Jersey, September, 1855.]

One day, the sombre soul, the Prophet most sublime At Patmos who aye dreamed, And tremblingly perused, without the vast of Time, Words that with h.e.l.l-fire gleamed,

Said to his eagle: ”Bird, spread wings for loftiest flight-- Needs must I see His Face!”

The eagle soared. At length, far beyond day and night, Lo! the all-sacred Place!

And John beheld the Way whereof no angel knows The name, nor there hath trod; And, lo! the Place fulfilled with shadow that aye glows Because of very G.o.d.

NELSON R. TYERMAN.

THE POET'S SIMPLE FAITH.

You say, ”Where goest thou?” I cannot tell, And still go on. If but the way be straight, It cannot go amiss! before me lies Dawn and the Day; the Night behind me; that Suffices me; I break the bounds; I _see_, And nothing more; _believe_, and nothing less.

My future is not one of my concerns.

PROF. E. DOWDEN.

I AM CONTENT.

_(”J'habite l'ombre.”)_

[1855.]

True; I dwell lone, Upon sea-beaten cape, Mere raft of stone; Whence all escape Save one who shrinks not from the gloom, And will not take the coward's leap i' the tomb.

My bedroom rocks With breezes; quakes in storms, When dangling locks Of seaweed mock the forms Of straggling clouds that trail o'erhead Like tresses from disrupted coffin-lead.

Upon the sky c.r.a.pe palls are often nailed With stars. Mine eye Has scared the gull that sailed To blacker depths with shrillest scream, Still fainter, till like voices in a dream.

My days become More plaintive, wan, and pale, While o'er the foam I see, borne by the gale, Infinity! in kindness sent-- To find me ever saying: ”I'm content!”

LA LeGENDE DES SIeCLES.

CAIN.

_(”Lorsque avec ses enfants Cain se fut enfui.”)_