The American Library of Art, Literature and Song

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And so, for the sake of old friendship, I ven

ture to tell you the truth

And you? Have you aimed at the highest?
Have you too aspired and prayed?

As plainly, perhaps, and as bluntly, as I Have you looked upon evil unsullied? have

Go measure yourself by her standard; look
back on the years that have fled;
Then ask, if you need, why she tells you

that the love of her girlhood is dead.

She cannot look down to her lover: her love, like her soul, aspires;

He must stand by her side or above her who
would kindle its holy fires.

Now farewell! For the sake of old friendship
I have ventured to tell you the truth-
As plainly, perhaps, and as bluntly, as I
might in our earlier youth.

That glittered like stars by the light of the

moon?

Her face has the look worn by those who with God and his angels have talked; The white robes she wears are less white than Oh, why are these dewdrops dissolving so

Hath the sun in his wrath chased their brightness away,

As though nothing that's lovely might live for a day?

THE TZAR AND THE SHEPHERDS.
FROM THE RUSSIAN OF DMITRIEV.

THE

HE tzar has wandered from the citygate

The moonlight has faded, the flowers still To seek seclusion from the cares of state,

remain,

But the dewdrops have fled from their petals again."

And thus he mused: "What troubles
equal mine?

That I accomplish when I purpose this.
In vain I bid the sun of concord shine,

"My child," said the father, "look up to And toil unwearied for my subjects' bliss: the skies; Its brightness lasts a moment, and the tzar Behold yon bright rainbow, those beautiful For the state's safety is compelled to war.

dyes:

There, there are the dewdrops in glory re

set;

'Midst the jewels of heaven they are glittering yet.

God knows I love my subjects-fain would

bless them,

But oft mistake, and injure and oppress

them.

I seek for truth, but courtiers all deceive me; And thus we are taught by each beautiful They fill their purses and deluded leave me.

ray

To mourn not for beauty, though fading

away;

For if youth in its freshness and beauty be riven,

My people sigh and groan: I share their

pain,

And struggle to relieve them, but in vain.”

Thus mused the lord of many nations; then.

'Tis but borne from this earth to bear Looked up, and saw wide scattered o'er the brighter in heaven."

That the beautiful child-a bright star of his They fled from place to place, alarmed,

He cries, he beats his breast, he tears his | The monarch lost all patience now:

hair,

Invoking death in agonized despair.

"Behold my picture," said His Majesty: "Here is another sovereign, just like me; I'm glad to know vexations travel far And plague a shepherd as they plague a tzar."

And on he moved in more contented mood— Whither, he knew not; but beyond the wood

He saw the loveliest flock that ever grazed, And lingered, mute with wonder, as he gazed.

How strong! how sleek! how satisfied! how

fair!

Wool soft as silk, and, piled in luxury there, Its golden burden seemed too great to bear; The lambs, as if they ran for wagers, playing,

Or near their dams, or far, securely straying,
The shepherd, 'neath the linden tree,
Tuned his pipe most joyfully!

"Ah!" said the tzar, "ye little think
How close ye stand on danger's brink:
The uncharitable wolf is near,
And he for music has no ear."

And so it was as if the wolf had heard,
Advancing in full gallop he appeared.

But the dogs the wily traitor knew,
Sprung up and at the robber flew :

His blood has for his daring paid,

For very wantonness and cruelty.
Thrice had he pierced his target in the eye
At fifty paces; twice defloured a rose,
Striking each time the very leaf he chose;
Then he set up his dagger in a hedge,
And split an arrow on its glittering edge.
What next to hit he knew not. Looking
round,

He saw a stork just lighted on the ground
To rest itself after its leagues of flight:
The dewy walk in which it stood was bright,
So white its plumage, and so clear its eyes,
Twinkling with innocence and sweet surprise.
"I'll shoot the silly bird," the prince ex-
claimed;

And, bending his strong bow, he straightway aimed

His keenest arrow at its panting heart.

And the lambkin that through fear had The lucky arrow missed a vital part

strayed

Is gathered into the fold anew;

And the shepherd's pipe was echoed still Down the vale and up the hill.

Or was it some kind wind that pushed it by?

And only struck and broke the creature's

thigh.

The poor thing tumbled in a lily-bed,
And its blood ran and made the lilies red.
It marked the changing color of the flowers,
The winding garden-walks, the bloomy bow-

ers,

Large as a pigeon's egg and red as wine.
At last he slumbered in the pale moonshine.
Meantime, the watchful stork was in his
bowers;

Again it saw its blood the flowers,

upon

And, last, the cruel prince, who laughed with And saw the walks, the fountain's shaft in air,

glee,

Fixing the picture in its memory;

This done, it struggled up and flew away, Leaving the prince amazed and in dismay.

Beyond the city walls a league or more
A little maid was spinning at her door,
Singing old songs to cheer the long day's
work.

Her name was Heraclis. The fainting stork
Dropped at her feet, and with its ebon bill.
Showed her its thigh, broken and bleeding
still.

She fetched it water from a neighbor spring, And while it drank and washed each dabbled wing

She set the fractured bones with pious care And bound them with the fillet of her hair. Eased of its pain, again it flew away, Leaving the maiden happier all the day.

But not the cruel prince: no prince was there;

So and down the spacious courts it flew,
And ever nearer to the palace drew.
Passing the lighted windows row by row,
It saw the prince and saw the ruby's glow;
Hopping into his chamber, grave and still,
It seized the precious ruby with its bill,
And, spreading then its rapid wings in flight,
Flew out and vanished in the yearning night.
Night slowly passed, and morning broke
again;

There came a light tap on the window-pane
Of Heraclis. It woke her; she arose,
And, slipping on in haste her peasant-clothes,
Opened the door to see who knocked, and,
lo!

In walked the stork again, as white as snow,
Triumphant with the ruby, whose red ray
Flamed in her face, anticipating day.
Again the creature pointed to its thigh,

That night the prince, as usual, went to And something human brightened in its eye—

Great pearls milk-white and shining like the She stretched her hand to sleek its bowing

Emeralds grass-green, sapphires like skies of But ere she could it made a sudden stand

June,

Brilliants that threw their light upon the wall,

And one great ruby that outshone them all,

And thrust the priceless ruby in her hand, And, sailing swiftly through the cottage door, Mounted the morning sky, and came no

more.

RICHARD HENRY STODDARD.

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The American Library of Art, Literature and Song, Volumen4