VOICES OF THE NIGHT. PRELUDE. Πότνια, πότνια νύξ, ὑπνοδότειρα τῶν πολυπόνων βροτών, ὑπὸ γὰρ ἀλγέων, υπό τε συμφορᾶς PLEASANT it was, when woods were green, Or where the denser grove receives Beneath some patriarchal tree EURIPIDES. Old legends of the monkish page, And chronicles of Eld. And, loving still these quaint old themes, I feel the freshness of the streams, Water the green land of dreams, Therefore, at Pentecost, which brings I sought the woodlands wide. The green trees whispered low and mild ; They were my playmates when a child, A slumberous sound, a sound that brings Still they looked at me and smiled, The feelings of a dream, As of innumerable wings, As, when a bell no longer swings, O'er meadow, lake, and stream. As if I were a boy; And ever whispered, mild and low, Into the woodlands hoar, Into the blithe and breathing air, Solemn and silent everywhere ! Like one in prayer I stood. Abroad their fan-like branches grew, HYMN TO THE NIGHT. Ασπασίη, τρίλλιστος. And, where the sunshine darted through, I HEARD the trailing garments of the Spread a vapor soft and blue, In long and sloping lines. And, falling on my weary brain, Like a fast-falling shower, The dreams of youth came back again, Visions of childhood! Stay, O stay! Thou art no more a child ! "The land of Song within thee lies, Its clouds are angels' wings. "Learn, that henceforth thy song shall be, Not mountains capped with snow, "There is a forest where the din 'Athwart the swinging branches cast, Soft rays of sunshine pour; Then conies the fearful wintry blast; Our hopes, like withered leaves, fall fast; Pallid lips say, 'It is past! We can return no more! "Look, then, into thine heart, and write ! Yes, into Life's deep stream! All forms of sorrow and delight, All solemn Voices of the Night, That can soothe thee, or affright, Be these henceforth thy theme." Night I heard the sounds of sorrow and delight, The manifold, soft chimes, That fill the haunted chambers of the Night, Like some old poet's rhymes. From the cool cisterns of the midnight air My spirit drank repose; The fountain of perpetual peace flows there, From those deep cisterns flows. O holy Night! from thee I learn to bear Peace Peace! Orestes-like I breathe this prayer! Descend with broad-winged flight, The welcome, the thrice-prayed for, the most fair, The best-beloved Night! A PSALM OF LIFE. WHAT THE HEART OF THE YOUNG MAN SAID TO THE PSALMIST. TELL me not, in mournful numbers, Life is real! Life is earnest ! And the grave is not its goal; Dust thou art, to dust returnest, Was not spoken of the soul. Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, Is our destined end or way; But to act, that each to-morrow Art is long, and Time is fleeting, Still, like muffled drums, are beating Funeral marches to the grave. In the world's broad field of battle, Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant! Let the dead Past bury its dead! Act, act in the living Present! Heart within, and God o'erhead! Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time; Footprints, that perhaps another, Sailing o'er life's solemn main, A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, Seeing, shall take heart again. Let us, then, be up and doing, With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait. 'They shall all bloom in fields of light, Transplanted by my care, And saints, upon their garments white, These sacred blossoms wear. And the mother gave, in tears and pain, O, not in cruelty, not in wrath, 'T was an angel visited the green earth, And took the flowers away. THE LIGHT OF STARS. THE night is come, but not too soon ; Drops down behind the sky. There is no light in earth or heaven Is it the tender star of love? The star of love and dreams? O no from that blue tent above, A hero's armor gleams. And earnest thoughts within me rise, O star of strength! I see thee stand Within my breast there is no light He rises in my breast, And calm, and self-possessed. And thou, too, whosoe'er thou art, That readest this brief psalm, As one by one thy hopes depart, Be resolute and calm. |