Shape the thought that stirs within | Patiently, and still expectant, thee!" And the startled artist woke, Woke, and from the smoking embers And therefrom he carved an image, O thou sculptor, painter, poet ! Take this lesson to thy heart : That is best which lieth nearest ; Shape from that thy work of art. PEGASUS IN POUND. ONCE into a quiet village, It was Autumn, and incessant Looked he through the wooden bars, Till at length the bell at midnight Then, with nostrils wide distended, To those stars he soared again. On the morrow, when the village Piped the quails from shocks and From that hour, the fount unfailing sheaves, And, like living coals, the apples Burned among the withering leaves. Not a triumph meant for him. Not the less he saw the landscape, Thus, upon the village common, By the school-boys he was found; Then the sombre village crier, And the curious country people, Rich and poor, and young and old, Thus the day passed, and the evening Gladdens the whole region round, Strengthening all who drink its waters, While it soothes them with its sound. TEGNER'S DRAPA. I HEARD a voice, that cried, And through the misty air I saw the pallid corpse Of the dead sun Borne through the Northern sky. Lifted the sheeted mists And the voice forever cried, Balder the Beautiful, Runes were upon his tongue, As on the warrior's sword. All things in earth and air Hoeder, the blind old God, They laid him in his ship, A ring upon his finger, They launched the burning ship! Over the misty sea, Till like the sun it seemed, So perish the old Gods! Walk the young bards and sing. But the great Master said, "I see To charm, to strengthen, and to teach. "These are the three great chords of might, And he whose ear is tuned aright SUSPIRIA. TAKE them, O Death! and bear away Whatever thou canst call thine own! Thine image, stamped upon this clay, Doth give thee that, but that alone! Take them, O Grave! and let them lie Folded upon thy narrow shelves, As garments by the soul laid by, And precious only to ourselves! Take them, O great Eternity! Our little life is but a gust That bends the branches of thy tree, And trails its blossoms in the dust! HYMN FOR MY BROTHER'S ORDINATION. CHRIST to the young man said: "Yet one thing more; If thou wouldst perfect be, Within this temple Christ again, unseen, And evermore beside him on his way Beside him at the marriage feast shall be, O holy trust! O endless sense of rest! To lay his head upon the Saviour's breast, Through leafy alleys Of verdurous valleys With merry sallies Singing their chant : "The roads should blossom, the roads should bloom, So fair a bride shall leave her home! Should blossom and bloom with garlands gay, So fair a bride shall pass to-day!" It is Baptiste, and his affianced maider, With garlands for the bridal laden! The sky was blue; without one cloud of gloom, The sun of March was shining brightly, Aud to the air the freshening wind gave lightly Its breathings of perfume. When one beholds the dusky hedges blossom, A rustic bridal, ah! how sweet it is! A band of maidens A band of youngsters Caressing, With fingers pressing, Till in the veriest Madness of mirth, as they dance, Trying whose laugh shall be loud- cries: It is, that, half-way up the hill, Was the village pride and splendor, All at the father's stern command was changed; Their peace was gone, but not their love estranged. Wearied at home, erelong the lover fled ; He is enticed, and onward led Then suddenly a maiden cried, "Anna, Theresa, Mary, Kate ! Here comes the cripple Jane!" And by a fountain's side A woman, bent and gray with years, It is that Jane, the cripple Jane, |