"I sank down on the couch to rest, THE DREAM OF PETICIUS. I. STILL lay the vessel like a sleeping thing; Unto the mast. The unruffled ocean wide II. More than a league they had not sailed that day; In the calm evening lay before them still. With snatches of blithe song or whistle shrill; And in a group apart, the people told Wild tales, and dreams, and dark traditions old. III. The captain was a thoughtful man, whose prime He from his life drew pleasant incident; IV. ""T was while our vessel scudding to the breeze, I saw, as now I see, in slumbrous ease The sea for him by that dead calm was bound, Green Pelion's head, and those dim mountains hoar But the ship voyaged free to Mitylene. Visions of beauty, green and cool- I think of some old country hall, I think of its dusk garden-bowers, And all sweet sounds of bird and bee, I think of mountains still and grey, Where the grave heron makes her nest; And pastoral vales, and lonely rills, And shepherd people on the hills,- Who talketh of the days that were ;- As in the heart of fairy land. Then mountains, lakes, and glorious skies Let Mammon's sons with visage lean, DU GUESCLIN'S RANSOM. THE black Prince Edward sate at meat Two hundred knights at the board were set, They were mailed men in merry cheer, And the Prince sate on the dais, And some they told the jester's tale, Till the hall of old Valenciennes To the dusky rafters rang; But 'mid the mirth and 'mid the wine Sir knight, do battle with thy woe, Or stay no longer here." "My liege." said he, " my soul is dark Within a dungeon strong, So fair and far renowned as mine Shall rest unknightly shame! Was brought the prisoned knight. Stood proudly in the ring, And named such ransom as would free I know a hundred Breton knights, To free me from thy hand." Prince Edward from the dais stepped down, "Give me thy hand!" said he, "Sir Knight, thou'rt brave as thou art proud, And thou honourest chivalrie, And therefore like thy chainless soul, Unransomed, thou art free!" Then burst forth plaudits long and loud, And they sate till set of sun, Might his grey father unto tears be moved, Listening his grateful praise,- his tears were unreproved. Her bright eyes sparkling with delight and love, Told his young sister of his travel wide, Of pleasant sojourn in some palmy grove, And Indian cities in their gorgeous pride; Of desert isles where savage tribes abide, And glorious shores and regions of old fame: Then were his trophies from all lands displayed, Belt, baracan, and bow of wondrous frame, High, nodding crest, and deadly battle blade, And birds of curious note in glittering plumes arrayed. And, in her joyful phrase, she told how he, And the old knight said, as he poured the wine, Ere their next meeting, o'er the wave would come, ""T was a fair deed nobly done." Next morning, on his gallant steed, With his own good sword and lance, Rode forward, from that castle-gate, The bravest man of France; And the people, as he passed along, In the sunshine shouted free, "Du Guesclin hath great honour done To France and chivalrie!" THE HOUSEHOLD FESTIVAL. "T WAS when the harvest-moon came slowly up, Broad, red and glorious o'er dark groves of pine; In the hushed eve, when closed the flow'ret's cup, And the blue grape hung dewy on the vine, Forth from a porch where tendrilled plants entwine, Weaving a shadowy bower of odorous things, Rich voices came, telling that there were met Beauty and youth, and mirth whose buoyant wings Soaring aloft o'er thoughts that gloom and fret, Gave man release from care or lured him to forget. And, as the moon rose higher in the sky, Casting a mimic day on all around, Lighting dim garden paths, through branches high, That cast their chequered shadows on the ground; Light maidens, dancing with elastic bound, Like fairy revellers, in one place were seen; And gentle friends were slowly pacing where The dark, thick laurels formed a bowery screen; And merry children, like the moonlight fair, With their wild, pealing laughter filled the perfumed air. Another hour, and in a lighted room Where glorious pictures lined the lofty wall, They sate in social ease;-no hrow of gloom, No saddened, downcast eye, that might recall Sorrowful musing, dimmed the festival. It was in honour of a gallant youth Those friends were met, the friends he dearest loved, All wishing he were there - and well, in sooth, Like a glad spirit, to partake their glee, When the next harvest-moon lit up the pane, The heavy sea broke thundering on the shore, The dark, dark night had gathered in the sky, And from the desert mountains came the roar Of ravening creatures, and a wild, shrill cry From the scared night-birds slowly wheeling by.And there he lay, beneath the spreading tree, Feverish and faint, and over heart and brain Rushed burning love, and sense of misery, And wild, impatient grief, and longings vain Within his blessed home to be at rest again. Another year-and the relentless wave Had washed away the white bones from the shore; And mourning for his son, down to the grave Had gone the old man with his locks all hoar;The household festival was held no more ; And when the harvest-moon came forth again, O'er the dark pines, in red autumnal state, Her light fell streaming through the window-pane Of that old room, where his young sister sate With her down-droopèd head, and heart all desolate. THE THREE AGES. How beautiful are ye, Thus pictured forth, a lesson that is full A child no more! a maiden now, A graceful maiden, with a gentle brow; Oh, youth! how fair, how dear thou art; Alas! that Time must take from thee Thy beautiful simplicity! Age, leaning on its staff, with feeble limb, Doth backward turn its eye, And few and evil seem the days gone by! Oh! venerable age! hast thou not proved all things, Love, Hope, and Promise fair, And seen them vanish into air, Like rainbows on a summer's eve! Riches unto themselves have taken wings; And Hope has been a traitor unto thee! Yet, venerable age, Full of experience sage, Well may the good respect thee, and the wise! For thou hast living faith, Triumphant over death, Which makes the future lovely to thine eyes! Thou knowest that, ere long, "T will be made known to thee, Why virtue is so weak, why evil strong; Age, Youth, and Infancy! These are your names in Time, When the eye darkens and the cheek grows pale; But in yon fairer clime, Where Life is not a melancholy tale, Where woe comes not, where never enters Death, Ye will have other names-Joy, Love, and Faith! MOURNING ON EARTH. SHE lay down in her poverty, Toil-stricken, though so young; And the words of human sorrow Fell trembling from her tongue. There were palace-houses round her; And pomp and pride swept by The walls of that poor chamber, Where she lay down to die. Two were abiding with her, The lowly of the earth,— Her feeble, weeping sister, And she who gave her birth. She lay down in her poverty, Toil-stricken, though so young; Fell from her trembling tongue. Have gathered o'er my head! "For love, the clinging, deathless, To leave the weak behind! "Oh Saviour, who didst drain the dregs Of human woe and pain, In this, the fiercest trial-hour, My doubting soul sustain! "I sink, I sink! support me; Deep waters round me roll! I fear! I faint! O Saviour, Sustain my sinking soul!" REJOICING IN HEAVEN. "OH spirit, freed from bondage, Rejoice, thy work is done! The weary world is 'neath thy feet, Thou brighter than the sun! sun. The chief idol, called Juggernaut, is a huge unsightly figure of wood, bearing some distant resemblance to the human form: it is painted black, with a red mouth, and large red and white circles for eyes. The ceremony of drawing the car takes place in June, and it is calculated that about 200,000 pilgrims, three-fourths of them females, annually resort to this festival, of whom at least 50,000 perish by sickness, hunger, and fatigue, and by voluntarily throwing themselves under its ponderous wheels. THE winds are stirred with tumult-on the air On roll his chariot-wheels, while every roll Such are thy creeds, O man! when thou art given To thy own fearful nature-false and stern! What were we now, but that all-pitying Heaven Sent us a holier, purer faith to learn? Type of its message came the white-winged dove- Or are they daintiest meats Or golden, chased cups o'erbrimmed Broad lands our fathers held; No, no, they are not these! or else, He would be poor indeed! They are not these! our household wealth It is the love within our souls- My heart is filled with gladness How bright, are rich men's children, Are still the rich man's best! But my heart o'erfloweth to mine eyes, My heart o'erfloweth to mine eyes, And that, sweet names doth callFor I know he has no treasure Like those dear children small! Oh, children young, I bless ye, HOUSEHOLD TREASURES. WHAT are they? gold and silver, Or what such ore can buy ? The pride of silken luxury; Rich robes of Tyrian dye? Guests that come thronging in With lordly pomp and state? Or thankless, liveried serving-men, To stand about the gate? THE MOSQUE OF SULTAN ACHMET. AT CONSTANTINOPLE. YOUNG Achmet the Sultan ariseth to-day, |