BATTLE OF THE BALTIC. I. OF Nelson and the North, Sing the glorious day's renown, When to battle fierce came forth All the might of Denmark's crown, And her arms along the deep proudly shone; By each gun the lighted brand, In a bold determined hand, And the Prince of all the land Led them on.— II. Like leviathans afloat, Lay their bulwarks on the brine; While the sign of battle flew On the lofty British line: It was ten of April morn by the chime: There was silence deep as death; And the boldest held his breath, 'Hearts of oak!' our captains cried; when each gun From its adamantine lips Spread a death-shade round the ships, Like the hurricane eclipse Of the sun. IV. Again! again! again! And the havoc did not slack, Till a feeble cheer the Dane To our cheering sent us back; Their shots along the deep slowly boom :- Then ceased-and all is wail, As they strike the shatter'd sail; Or, in conflagration pale, Light the gloom. V. Out spoke the victor then, As he hail'd them o'er the wave; 'Ye are brothers! ye are men! And the sounds of joy and grief From her people wildly rose, As death withdrew his shades from the day. While the sun look'd smiling bright O'er a wide and woful sight, Where the fires of funeral light Died away. VII. Now joy, old England, raise ! Whilst the wine cup shines in light; Let us think of them that sleep, Full many a fathom deep, By thy wild and stormy steep, VIII. Brave hearts! to Britain's pride Once so faithful and so true, On the deck of fame that died, With the gallant good Riou: Soft sigh the winds of Heaven o'er their grave! And the mermaid's song condoles, Singing glory to the souls Of the brave ! A THOUGHT SUGGESTED BY THE NEW YEAR. [THE RIVER OF LIFE.] The more we live, more brief appear Our life's succeeding stages: A day to childhood seems a year, The gladsome current of our youth, Steals, lingering like a river smooth But, as the care-worn cheek grows wan, Ye stars, that measure life to man, Why seem your courses quicker? When joys have lost their bloom and breath, And life itself is vapid, Why, as we reach the Falls of death, Feel we its tide more rapid? It may be strange-yet who would change Time's course to slower speeding; When one by one our friends have gone, And left our bosoms bleeding? Heaven gives our years of fading strength Indemnifying fleetness; And those of youth, a seeming length, Proportioned to their sweetness. 5 10 15 20 TO A SKYLARK. ETHEREAL minstrel! pilgrim of the sky! [To the last point of vision, and beyond, Mount, daring warbler! that love-prompted strain, ("Twixt thee and thine a never-failing bond) Thrills not the less the bosom of the plain : Yet might'st thou seem, proud privilege! to sing All independent of the leafy spring.] Leave to the nightingale her shady wood; 5 10 A privacy of glorious light is thine; Whence thou dost pour upon the world a flood 15 Of harmony, with instinct more divine: Type of the wise who soar, but never roam; True to the kindred points of Heaven and Home! |