Asunder should be torn in ruth, It was a cruel doom. 3. "Go forth," she said, "pursue thy way; But some fair garden shouldst thou see, And pluck a rose-leaf from the spray, 4. "Unclasp thy mail, when none is by, 5. "And thou, my soul," the soldier said, 6. "At noon I filled my jar with wine, And dropp'd therein a ball of snow, Sir John Bowring (1792 - 1872). A RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW. 1. Oh, when I was a tiny boy My days and nights were full of joy, 2. A hoop was an eternal round Of pleasure. In those days I found A top a joyous thing; But now those past delights I drop, And careful thoughts the string! 3. My marbles-once my bag was stored,- My playful horse has slipt his string, And harnessed to the law! 4. My kite, how fast and far it flew! 'Twas paper'd o'er with studious themes, 5. My joys are wingless all and dead; My fears prevail, my fancies droop, And seldom with a call! 6. My football's laid upon the shelf;- The world knocks to and fro,- And grief against myself has turned 7. No more in noontide sun I bask; My heart is pained with scorn and slight, 1 The name Elgin marbles was given to a splendid collection of statuary which was brought from the Parthenon of Athens to England, by Lord Elgin, in 1814, and is now deposited in the British Museum, London. 2 The great legendary hero of Attica. 3 Benjamin Franklin, who identified lightning with electricity. I have too many foes to fight, And friends grown strangely cool! 8. The very chum that shared my cake It makes me shrink and sigh,— 9. No skies so blue or so serene As then ;-no leaves look half so green All things I loved are altered so, 10. Oh, for the garb that marked the boy,The trousers made of corduroy, Well ink'd with black and red; The crownless hat,-ne'er deem'd an ill,- 11. Oh for the ribbon round the neck! 12. Oh, for that small, small beer anew! And (heaven's own type) that mild sky-blue The master even!-and that small Turk There is a reference here to the Alexandrine verse (see Introduction). 13. Oh for the lessons learned by heart! Should mark those hours again; 14. The Arabian Nights rehearsed in bed! 66 15. The omne bene "1-Christmas come, The prize of merit, won for home,— Merit had prizes then! But now I write for days and days,— 16. Then home, sweet home! the crowded coach,— The meeting sweet that made me thrill,— 17. When that I was a tiny boy My days and nights were full of joy, Thomas Hood (1798 — 1845). 1 "All is well"-the opening words of a well-known rhyme in classical schools. 2 "Enough." 3 "Already"-"jam satis" is also a not uncommon Latin phrase. The play upon words needs no explanation. THE VOICE OF WOE. "The language of passion, and more peculiarly that of grief, is ever nearly the same." 1. An Indian chief went forth to fight, And bravely met the foe. His eye was keen-his step was light- His widow sang with simple tongue, 2. A Moorish maiden knelt beside She bade him stay to bless his bride, With simple tongue the sad one sung, 3. An English matron mourned her son, Afar from her his course was run, With simple tongue the mother sung, 4. A gentle Highland maiden saw A brother's body borne From where, for country, king, and law, He went his gallant sword to draw; |