10 One word, ere yet the evening ends: Good-night! I'd say the griefs, the joys, The triumphs and defeats of boys, Are but repeated in our age; 20 I'd say your woes were not less keen, 5 10 With grizzled beards at forty-five, As erst at twelve in corduroys, And if, in time of sacred youth, We learned at home to love and pray, 35 Pray heaven that early love and truth May never wholly pass away. And in the world, as in the school, 15 20 Or hunger hopeless at the gate. So each shall mourn, in life's advance, Pray God the heart may kindly glow, Come wealth or want, come good or ill, And bear it with an honest heart. Go, lose or conquer as you can; But if you fail, or if you rise, Be each, pray God, a gentleman. A gentleman, or old or young! 60 65 70 WHITHER DEPART THE BRAVE And peace on earth to gentle men! 80 Rome is fallen, I hear, the gallant Medici taken, Noble Manara slain, and Garibaldi has lost To say we truly feel the pain, That keeps us still alive. (1869) 5 15 20 Her rounded form was lean, And her silk was bombazine; Well I wot 35 35 40 45 |