* 25 Take all the pleasures of all the spheres, 35 * From Eden's fountain, when it lies On the blue flower,* which, Bramins * say, Blooms nowhere but in Paradise. "Nymph of a fair but erring * line," Gently he said,—“One hope is thine : "Tis written in the Book of Fate, The Peri yet may be forgiven 40 Who brings to this Eternal Gate 45 The Gift that is most dear to Heaven. The beautiful blue damsel-flies * From his hot steed, and on the brink 60 Of a small imaret's* rustic fount 65 Impatient fling him down to drink. Like thunder-clouds, of gloom and fire; All the pleasure, &c., one moment's happiness in heaven is worth an eternity of earthly pleasures. Blue flower, the Bramins believe that the blue Campac flowers only in Paradise. Bramin, an Indian priest. Nymph, a fabled female being inhabiting the earth and the waters. Erring, going wrong. Redeem, to make atonement for. Balbec, a ruined city of Syria, north of Damascus, in the valley of the Lebanon, Damselflies, a species of beautiful insects whose graceful and elegant appearance has procured for them the name of Damsels. Imaret, a place where pilgrims are lodged and nourished for three days without charge. Haggard, careworn, Upon a brow, &c., his countenance showed that he had led a very wicked life. Ruthless, cruel, with. Memory ran, &c., looking back upon his past life, he could not recollect having done one good action since the days of his childhood. With blood of guests.' There written, all * * From Syria's thousand minarets.* Kneels, with his forehead to the south, From purity's own cherub mouth, Oh! 'twas a sight-that heaven, that child- * many a year of guilt and strife, Flew o'er the dark flood of his life, Nor found one sunny resting-place, Nor brought him back one branch of grace? "There was a time," he said, in mild Heart-humbled tones, "thou blessed child, Haply, perhaps, it When, young and haply* pure as thou, may be. I looked and prayed like thee; but now"- 120 Blest tears of soul-felt penitence ! Of guiltless joy that guilt can know. "There's a drop," said the Peri, "that down from the moon Falls through the withering airs of June 130 * The precious tears of repentance fall? 135 While the same sunbeam shines upon And hymns of joy* proclaim through heaven Hymns of joy, &c., The triumph of a soul forgiven. 'Twas when the golden orb* had set, 140 While on their knees they lingered yet, Joy, joy for ever! My task is done— THANATOPSIS.-W. C. Bryant. the angels rejoice Northern flash, Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights. Meteor, a fiery body passing quickly through the atmosphere. harbinger, a messenger or forerunner. WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT (1794-1878), one of the most eminent poets of America, was born in Massachusetts. His poems are noted for their national spirit, tenderness, grace and beauty of description. Chief works: Thanatopsis; or, Thoughts on Death, and The Ages, a survey of the experience of mankind. To him who in the love of nature holds inter. Communion, Various, different, unlike each other, varied, changing. Musings, thoughts, reflections. Sympathy, compas sion. Last bitter hour, the time of death. Blight, that which causes a thing to de cay and wither up. Narrow house, the grave. Yet a few days, &c., in this life all things soon decay, not leaving even a trace behind. * A various language; for his gayer hours Of the last bitter hour come like a blight * Of the stern agony, and shroud, and pall, house, * Make thee to shudder, and grow sick at heart- 10 To Nature's teachings, while from all around— 15 Thy image. Earth, that nourished thee, shall claim changed Thy growth, to be resolved * to earth again Resolved, To mix for ever with the elements swain * Turns with his share,* and treads upon. The 20 25 Shall send his roots abroad, and pierce thy 30 mould. Yet not to thine eternal resting-place Shalt thou retire alone-nor couldst thou wish Couch more magnificent.* Thou shalt lie With patriarchs of the infant world *—with The powerful of the earth-the wise, the 35 Fair forms, and hoary seers,* of ages past, vales Stretching in pensive* quietness between ; Old ocean's grey and melancholy waste- 55 And millions in these solitudes, since first In their last sleep-the dead there reign alone. draw * Unheeded by the living—and no friend 60 Take note of thy departure? All that breathe Will share thy destiny." The gay will laugh Destiny, fate, end. Plod on, and each one, as before, will chase 55 His favourite phantom; * yet all these shall Phantom, idea. leave Their mirth and their employments, and shall come And make their bed* with thee. As the long Bed, grave. train Of ages glide away, the sons of men, The youth in life's green spring, and he who goes 70 In the full strength of years, matron,* and maid, And the sweet babe, and the grey-headed man Shall one by one be gathered to thy side, * Matron, a mother, an elderly woman. comes to Summons, a call to 75 The innumerable caravan,* that moves appear. I |