PARTED FRIENDS. FRIEND after friend departs : Who hath not lost a friend? There is no union here of hearts That finds not here an end; Were this frail world our only rest, Living or dying, none were blest. Beyond the flight of time, Beyond this vale of death, There is a world above, Where parting is unknown; A whole eternity of love, Formed for the good alone; Thus star by star declines, As morning high and higher shines, Ner sink those stars in empty night; "T is true," I'd not believe them more than thee, All-noble Marcius. Let me twine Mine arms about that body, where-against We have a power on foot; and I had purpose Or lose mine arm for 't. Thou hast beat me out | Stood forth in Bagdad daily, in the square Where once had stood a happy house, and there Marcius, Had we no other quarrel else to Rome, but that Like a bold flood o'erbear. O, come! go in, A thousand welcomes! And more a friend than e'er an enemy; Yet, Marcius, that was much. SHAKESPEARE. WHEN TO THE SESSIONS OF SWEET SILENT THOUGHT. SONNET XXX. WHEN to the sessions of sweet silent thought But if the while I think on thee, dear friend, JAFFAR. SHAKESPEARE. JAFFAR, the Barmecide, the good vizier, All but the brave Mondeer: he, proud to show "Bring me this man," the caliph cried; the man Was brought, was gazed upon. The mutes began To bind his arms. "Welcome, brave cords," cried he; "From bonds far worse Jaffar delivered me; From wants, from shames, from loveless household fears; Made a man's eyes friends with delicious tears; Haroun, who felt that on a soul like this And hold the giver as thou deemest fit!" High toward the heavens, as though to meet his star, Exclaimed, "This, too, I owe to thee, Jaffar!" LEIGH HUNT. THE MEETING OF THE SHIPS. "We take each other by the hand, and we exchange a few words and looks of kindness, and we rejoice together for a few short moments; and then days, months, years intervene, and we see and know nothing of each other."- WASHINGTON IRVING. Two barks met on the deep mid-sea, When calms had stilled the tide ; A few bright days of summer glee There found them side by side. And voices of the fair and brave Rose mingling thence in mirth; And sweetly floated o'er the wave The melodies of earth. Moonlight on that lone Indian main And hands were linked, and answering eyes THE QUARREL OF FRIENDS. FROM "CHRISTABEL." ALAS! they had been friends in youth: And life is thorny; and youth is vain; Doth work like madness in the brain. And insult to his heart's best brother; But never either found another The marks of that which once hath been. SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE. THOMAS Moore. WE HAVE BEEN FRIENDS TOGETHER. WE have been friends together In sunshine and in shade, Since first beneath the chestnut-tree In infancy we played. But coldness dwells within thy heart, Shall a light word part us now? THE ROYAL GUEST. THEY tell me I am shrewd with other men ; If other guests should come, I'd deck my hair, And choose my newest garment from the shelf; When thou art bidden, I would clothe my heart With holiest purpose, as for God himself. Evenings we knew, Pleasant to see. Kind hearts and true, Care, like a dun, Drain we the cup. · Empty it yet; Sorrows, begone! WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY. GIVE ME THE OLD. OLD WINE TO DRINK, OLD WOOD TO BURN, OLD BOOKS TO READ, AND OLD FRIENDS TO CONVERSE WITH. OLD wine to drink! Ay, give the slippery juice That drippeth from the grape thrown loose Within the tun; Plucked from beneath the cliff Of sunny-sided Teneriffe, And ripened 'neath the blink Of India's sun! Peat whiskey hot, Tempered with well-boiled water! These make the long night shorter, Forgetting not Good stout old English porter. AULD LANG SYNE. SHOULD auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to min'? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And days o' lang syne? CHORUS. For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne, We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet, For auld lang syne. |