The man that joins in life’s career
And hopes to find some comfort here,
To rise above this earthly mass,—
The only way ’s to drink his glass.
But still, on this uncertain stage
Where hopes and fears the soul engage,
And while, amid the joyous band,
Unheeded flows the measured sand,
Forget not as the moments pass
That...
Untrammelled Giant of the West,
With all of Nature’s gifts endowed,
With all of Heaven’s mercies blessed,
Nor of thy power unduly proud—
Peerless in courage, force, and skill,
And godlike in thy strength of will,—
Before thy feet the ways divide:
One path leads up to heights sublime;
Downward the other slopes, where bide...
If thou dost bid thy friend farewell,
But for one night though that farewell may be,
Press thou his hand in thine.
How canst thou tell how far from thee
Fate or caprice may lead his steps ere that to-morrow comes?
Men have been known to lightly turn the corner of a street,
And days have grown to months, and months to lagging years,
Ere...
From the Chinese by William. R. Alger
SHE says, “The cock crows,—hark!”
He says, “No! still ’t is dark.”
She says, “The dawn grows bright,”
He says, “O no, my Light.”
She says, “Stand up and say,
Gets not the heaven gray?”
He says, “The morning star
Climbs the horizon’s bar.”
She says, “Then quick depart:
...
From the Greek by Alexander Pope
From “The Iliad,” Book VI.
“TOO daring prince! ah whither dost thou run?
Ah too forgetful of thy wife and son!
And think’st thou not how wretched we shall be,
A widow I, a helpless orphan he!
For sure such courage length of life denies,
And thou must fall, thy virtue’s sacrifice.
Greece in her...
Sienna
I Love thee, love thee, Giulio!
Some call me cold, and some demure,
And if thou hast ever guessed that so
I love thee … well;—the proof was poor,
And no one could be sure.
Before thy song (with shifted rhymes
To suit my name) did I undo
The persian? If it moved sometimes,
Thou hast not seen a hand push...
Frigid and sweet Her parting Face —
Frigid and fleet my Feet —
Alien and vain whatever Clime
Acrid whatever Fate.
Given to me without the Suit
Riches and Name and Realm —
Who was She to withhold from me
Penury and Home?
Ah! wherefore should my weeping maid suppress
Those gentle signs of undissembled woe?
When from soft love proceeds the deep distress,
Ah! why forbid the willing tears to flow?
Since for my sake each dear translucent drop
Breaks forth, best witness of thy truth sincere,
My lips should drink...
The Auctioneer of Parting
His "Going, going, gone"
Shouts even from the Crucifix,
And brings his Hammer down —
He only sells the Wilderness,
The prices of Despair
Range from a single human Heart
To Two — not any more —
We'll pass without the parting
So to spare
Certificate of Absence —
Deeming where
I left Her I could find Her
If I tried —
This way, I keep from missing
Those that died.
