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Cornell University Library 
 PR 4507.C85I8 
 
 Imagination, and other poems. 
 
 3 1924 013 467 331 
 
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 H507 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tliis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924013467331 
 
IMAGINATION. 
 
IMAGINATION; 
 
 OTHER POEMS. 
 
 THE RIGHT HONOURABLE 
 WILLIAM JAMES RICHMOND COTTON, M.I 
 
 LORD MAYOR 1875-6, 
 
 If London stamp this with its good report, 
 It franks it through the world. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 CHAPMAN AND HALL, 193, PICCADILLY. 
 
 1876. 
 
 [Tie right of translation aoroad is reserved.] 
 
4 SOT 
 
 dSSVd 
 
 Ka^a-^cAo 
 
 LONDON : 
 BRADBURY, AGNEW, & CO., PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS, 
 
i;0 
 THOMAS CARLYLE, ESQ., 
 
 iahost 
 
 Sonl has so stamiwi itself ttpntt 
 
 ^iitxuinxt 
 
 as t0 gitu; thjjttghts anb poiucr to other mtnis, 
 
 anb tnhost 
 
 ^aine tpiU be. wfledeb ttpon the pages 
 
 of 
 
 J^ante anb Slime, 
 
 this ^etottb Jcbteation is, toith siiueve abiniration, 
 
 anb bg permission, inseribeb bj 
 
 October, 1876, 
 
ORIGINAL DEDICATION. 
 
 CHARLES DICKENS, ESQ., 
 
 althottgh »nirj)ttitt)«b ig laiimrs 
 
 that ittttst i)r«-*ininMitJls otcttpg hia mini, 
 
 wai 
 
 tDttk tbf yrotnptttf»« af a fmnb th« tocrk of a strangtr, 
 
 anil 
 
 hottDrfb it toith his nanu, 
 
 this ^atxsi, i« rwpwtfttllg inatiitfi 
 
 is 
 
 1850. 
 
At the request of friends whose 
 judgment I esteem, these Poems, written 
 years ago, are now published. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE, 
 IMAGINATION. — PART L I 
 
 „ PART II 49 
 
 THE PASSION FLOWER lOI 
 
 SPRING 103 
 
 SUMMER 105 
 
 AUTUMN 107 
 
 WINTER 109 
 
 SONNET FOR THE NEW YEAR Ill 
 
 STRANGE STORIES II3 
 
 SUNDAY IN ENGLAND . . . " I15 
 
 THE CHILDREN AT ST. PAUL'S 117 
 
 ALONE, ALONE H9 
 
 THE MURDERER 121 
 
 GUARDIAN ANGEL, BE OUR GUIDE 1 30 
 
 THE MAGIC OF HOME TO MY SOUL IS APPEALING . 1 34 
 
 WHEN discord's HOUNDS ARE LOOSED UPON THE 
 
 WORLD 136 
 
viii CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 LUXURY 138 
 
 TO A CHILD 140 
 
 CHILDREN, HAPPY CHILDREN I42 
 
 THE APPEAL OF POVERTY 1 44 
 
 SYMPATHY 146 
 
 SONG OF THE SKELETONS 147 
 
 SUNSHINE 150 
 
 FORGET ME NOT 158 
 
 THE APPARITION 159 
 
 ODE TO CAUTION 163 
 
 FAME 166 
 
IMAGINATION. 
 
 PART I. 
 
ARGUMENT. 
 
 The general Argument supposes the universal existence of Imagination. 
 
 The Poem opens with the invocation to and the description 
 and power of Imagination — her existence prior to the Creation— in 
 Paradise, her influence in tempting Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit — 
 in the confusion of Cain; — in inspiring the angels with love for the 
 daughters of Eve— the Deluge— her power to overcome in the minds of 
 men the threatened wrath of God — the subsidence of the Deluge — her 
 influence in producing wine — in raising the tower of Babel — in sus- 
 taining the Israelites to the land of Canaan, and inducing Pharaoh to 
 pursue — her power through the past, in the dark ages, and upon the 
 future — in the recollections of the mind — her influence upon charity — 
 in dreams — several dreams described — the ascent of the mountain — 
 description of the feelings arising thereon— her power in romance, and 
 over the minds of men to their death — in promoting poetry, astronomy, 
 painting, poesy — science and philosophy— over the antiquarian — music 
 — liberty — eloquence — in the suppression of war, and hope of peace for 
 the future. 
 
PART I. 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 The general Argument supposes the universal existence of 
 Imagitiaiion. 
 
 Come forth, Imagination ! heav'n-born maid, 
 Reveal thy charms in beauty's garb arrayed, 
 Thy smiles which greet the bursting buds of 
 
 Spring, 
 Thy voice which sighs when Summer zephyrs 
 
 sing, 
 Thy face, nut-brown when Autumn's harvests 
 
 flow, 
 Thy Winter step that sets thy cheeks aglow, 
 And all that light, whate'er thy clime or guise, 
 That shines on land, o'er sea, 'mid sunlit skies. 
 
4 IMAGINATION.. 
 
 Vouchsafe me all thy light— thy vivid fire — 
 Inflame my soul now burning with desire- 
 On thine own wings let me ecstatic fly> 
 And feel on earth the glories of the sky ; 
 Aid, mighty Goddess, one who worships ' 
 
 thee. 
 And bows before thy form a loving knee. 
 
 Let Fancy, bright attendant, lead me forth, 
 Thro' sunny climes, or to the snow-clad north — 
 From earth to highest heaven, to nether hell. 
 That all my spirit sees, my tongue may tell — 
 The joys of life, death's certain end to know, 
 The clouds that shadow human bliss below ! 
 Delicious raptures rise ; then overwhelm 
 A willing captive in thy changeful realm : 
 For I have known more bliss, more woe, with 
 
 thee 
 Than colder mortals of the world can see — 
 
IMAGINATION. 5 
 
 Have sought thee, loved thee, owned thy sove- 
 reign sway- 
 In cities proud, and meadows sweetly gay. 
 Now fairy dreams upon my vision fall ; 
 I hold a charmed lamp : am lord of all ; 
 Live as an emperor 'mid surrounding kings, 
 Till duty calls me back to earthly things. 
 This done, again I muse on pleasant themes, 
 And live and move once more in glorious 
 dreams. 
 
 What makes the landscape and the waving 
 
 trees 
 So sv.^eet to Nature's child ? 'Tis Fancy sees 
 A thousand beauties in the prospect round, 
 Which wert Thou absent he would ne'er have 
 
 found ; 
 And whence that look whate'er we have, or do. 
 For that bright something ever hid from view — 
 
6 IMAGINATION. 
 
 That glow ecstatic, and that wild delight 
 
 That springs with thee upon thy upward flight ? 
 
 And Avhence that whispered hope — life's day 
 
 once o'er — 
 To live in spirit on a blissful shore ? 
 
 Now, mingling with the gay and fragrant 
 
 flowers, 
 Their beauties heightened by thy magic powers ; 
 Or, floating with the elements, thy form 
 Swells the fierce grandeur of the raging storm — 
 O'erwhelms the weak-strung nerve with aching 
 
 dread. 
 As bursts the thunder-cloud around the head. 
 
 When ocean plays upon the sounding shore 
 Its sea-born songs, unsung, unheard before. 
 Thine are the lips, attune them to the ear. 
 As chords of sadness or as notes that cheer. 
 
IMAGINATION. 7 
 
 Each coming pleasure steals a charm from 
 
 thee, 
 That full possession strives in vain to see ; 
 Or impious thoughts arise with thickening gloom, 
 Till guilty sorrow seeks the unhallowed tomb. 
 
 Man's God-like race — his short-lived joy, his 
 
 woe, 
 Omniscience fashion'd ere they moved below ; 
 Each creature imaged in the Almighty mind — 
 Each happy bird and beast, all insect kind : 
 With Adam lonely, 'mid bright Eden's bliss, 
 His purest rapture in the imaged kiss — 
 His warmest transport in beholding Eve ; 
 Thus God imagining, did erst conceive. 
 
 What made the tree of knowledge tempting 
 
 seem 
 Most beautiful of all ?— thy fruitful dream : 
 
8 -IMAGINATION. 
 
 Or Adam of Kis guilt afraid, asham'd, — 
 
 God's coming anger thy swift tongue proclaim'd ; 
 
 Or Cain smite Abel with a murderous hand, 
 
 Then fly accurst and dread the signal brand ? 
 
 Thy voice accusing bade his spirit see 
 
 His brethren shrink aghast, his presence flee. 
 
 Who made the Angels deem Earth's daughters 
 
 fair ? 
 Thy lips ecstatic breathed their beauties rare — 
 Inspired their soulswithnew-borndreamsof bliss, 
 That heaven with its pure joys could not dismiss, 
 On wings of love expectant fly to earth, 
 To know the charms thy voice had given birth. 
 
 God gave the word — the whelming flood began : 
 Through souls of hopeful men thy whispers ran. 
 That this would pass like former storms away — 
 Earth's bosom fill to leave her face more gay ; 
 
IMAGINATION. g 
 
 Swift-pouring day and night, till hope is vain, 
 The waters rise with fearful swell ; the rain 
 Falls heavier — wild torrents drown the vale, 
 Mount the high hills — more'loudly roars thegale ; 
 No light shines forth the glorious day to show — 
 The night, as black as death, hides all below ; 
 Now man and beast in mad confusion float — 
 The drowning and the drowned, the waters 
 
 gloat 
 Each moment o'er fresh victims — huge trees fall. 
 Dread monsters agonized the floods enthral. 
 Who beat the waters in their blinded rage. 
 Fight hard with death, and all his powers 
 
 engage ; 
 Men reach the highest points without avail — ^ 
 The waters rise like mountains with the gale — 
 From peak to peak they fly, keen dangers 
 
 past ' 
 To sink exhausted — overcome at last ; 
 
I o IMA GIN A TION. 
 
 Some 'scape the water, hunger's pang to feel, 
 Man preys on man its raging qualms to heal ; 
 Fond mothers hurl their offspring from their 
 
 breast, 
 To gain some height where panting thousands 
 
 rest ; 
 Some seize with eager hand a drifting bough, 
 In safety float, till a vast cataract's brow 
 Draws them within its rapid boiling surge, 
 Then eddying hurls them o'er its giddy verge — 
 Drowns their last cries amid its thunderous 
 
 roar ; 
 From rock to rock they fall, to rise no more. 
 Earth's cities sink as the great waters spread ; 
 And ocean's monsters prey upon the dead. 
 The splendid palaces proud man had raised, 
 The forms of beauty angel's lips had praised, 
 The earlier arts, and nature's pristine ways. 
 Were lost to earth in those dread forty days. 
 
IMAGINATION. ii 
 
 The children of the angels fiercely died, 
 For forty days they battled with the tide, 
 The spirit of their sires gave mighty strength 
 To cast the waters from them, till at length 
 Their earthly natures sank— -to its own fire 
 The spark ethereal flies — they last expire. 
 The Tree of Life the angels bore above, 
 All lost save Knowledge, left for man to love. 
 
 The waters of the Deluge pass'd away, 
 The earth was young again, her aspect gay — 
 Trees rich in verdure and in blossom hung, 
 Birds happy mid the foliage chirped and 
 
 sung ; 
 The wanton cattle in the meadows played. 
 And beauteous flowers their thousand hues 
 
 arrayed ; 
 The land was full of grain — the blooming vine 
 Rich in its purple clusters tempting shine 
 
12 IMAGINATION. 
 
 Caught Noah's raptured gaze — its maiden blush 
 Inspired his soul, — now through his fancy rush 
 Bright thoughts from Thee, and last the thought 
 
 divine, 
 Which blessed our race with rich and generous 
 
 wine. 
 
 Fear, lest the waters should o'erwhelm again. 
 Raised Babel's height defiant on the plain. 
 An imaged deluge filled the human mind, 
 And made it to the Bow of Mercy blind. 
 The Promised Land, where rtiilk and honey 
 
 flowed, 
 Though yet unseen. Imagination showed — 
 Made Israel leave its homes 'neath Egypt's 
 
 ,r sway, 
 With flocks and herds pursue the desert way — 
 Made Pharaoh rage at useful service lost, 
 Pursue and die with Egypt's mighty host. 
 
IMAGINATION. 13 
 
 Light of the past, precursor of the good, 
 Bright prophet of the soul ! whose voice with- 
 stood 
 The mandates harsh of tyranny, — the Test 
 Of ripening reason, giver of the zest 
 That spurred men on to conquer and remove 
 Their ways barbaric, led their souls to prove 
 Inspired -themes that sang of mortal worth — 
 Taught slaves to think and feel the right of 
 
 birth, 
 Rise like a swelling sea, their foes o'erwhelm 
 And place a patriot at the state's proud helm, 
 To guide them safely on ! Through ages dark 
 The light of knowledge, dwindled to a spark. 
 Smouldering, yet lived, when the unfettered 
 
 soul 
 Ran riot on the earth and scorned control, 
 When man a savage lived in every clime, 
 And passions wild were yet untamed by time ; 
 
14 IMAGINATION. 
 
 He fiercely roved to plunder or engage 
 
 In self-destroying war — a foolish age ! 
 
 When human life was nought, and War's keen 
 
 knife 
 Was red and warm in internecine strife. 
 A few more ages passed — earth's people spread 
 O'er many lands — 'twas then Thy voice of dread 
 Formed families into nations, whose increase 
 And wants produced the useful arts of Peace. 
 With law and order kings and emperors rose, 
 Whose lust of power begat inhuman woes. 
 In Bible page we read of mighty deeds, 
 Of direful crimes, at which the bosom bleeds : 
 Then History the dreadful record swells, 
 Of Rome's destroying legions mournful tells, 
 Who, conquering nations in her day of power, 
 Was levelled in her most luxurious hour ; 
 Then soldier-priests led men for temporal gain ; 
 Then Learning struggled for a time in vain ; 
 
' IMAGINATION. i5 
 
 Then wars and crimes destruction hurled 
 around, 
 
 Till Wisdom came, and genial arts were found ; 
 
 Then peaceful Science seized the favoured hour, 
 
 And raised from thoughts her varied forms of 
 power. 
 
 Then many an age flowed on, but not in vain. 
 
 Each as it glided swelled the human gain. 
 
 Thus through each era past Thy voice has 
 
 cheered, 
 Made man more noble — life and laws revered. 
 Tyrannic bonds were snapt in Freedom's name. 
 And smiling Liberty triumphant came. 
 On Hope's bright course Imagination ran, 
 And still remains the same to hopeful man : 
 Her beacon-light — the guide of every age- 
 Heralds each daring flight on poet's page. 
 Irradiates the future, wider glows 
 As wisdom's light yet ever brighter flows. 
 
i6 IMAGINATION. 
 
 Sings liberty, contentment, justice, hope. 
 To shackled nations, yet too weak to cope 
 With despot's myrmidons, blood-stained with 
 
 crime, 
 Whose names will sink accurst in coming time. 
 
 When earth's proud cities rose upon the plain, 
 Thou mad'st the nations of their splendours 
 
 vain ; 
 Yet taught the moral to aspiring men 
 That human glory turns to dust again 
 By crumbling ruins of the eastern land, 
 That once were massive, beautiful, and grand ; 
 Great Babylon, condemned upon the wall — 
 Athens and Rome, whose mouldering pillars 
 
 fall 
 From splendid temples of their gods adored ; 
 If gods do change, can man be hailed earth's 
 
 lord? 
 
IMAGINATION. 17 
 
 How oft a happy scene thy hand will paint 
 And raise to perfect form from outline 
 
 faint 
 The festive, board, the friends that circle 
 
 round, 
 The pun, the jest, the mirth, each happy 
 
 sound ; 
 Though still the tongue, though lost the form 
 
 to sight, 
 Thy backward gaze reveals the past delight. 
 Some treasured relic, lock of hair, or ring, 
 To Fancy's eye the absent friend will brings ' 
 Recall a kindly deed, hold converse sweet 
 With those in life we never more can 
 
 meet, — 
 Will oft repeat a father's warning word 
 Whose sage advice impatiently was heard, 
 Some kind unselfish trait — a mother's love. 
 Of all the wealth of love its treasure-trove. 
 
1 8 IMAGINATION. 
 
 A smile or glance reveals a sister dear, 
 A brother's buried form makes reappear, 
 A wife or husband passed away from sight, 
 Pictured, how lovingly, in realms of light. 
 
 From Thee, the soul of charity will flow, 
 Through hearts that sigh for grief or bleed at 
 
 woe : 
 Thousands pursue the quiet side of fame — 
 Secret their charity, unknown their name, 
 Whose souls vibrating to another's pain, 
 Will give on earth what God shall give again. 
 For lives so passed recorded are on high 
 In heaven's bright archives writ immortally. 
 
 When night brings slumber, with her soothing 
 
 balm, 
 To ease earth's throbbing hearts with blissful 
 
 calm, 
 
lAfAGINATIOM. 19 
 
 How busy are Thy shapes ! The dreaming 
 
 world 
 Teems with Thy phantom Hfe, at random 
 
 hurled. 
 What curious fancies fill the sleeper's brain, 
 Confronting all our day-thoughts —bliss where 
 
 pain, 
 Sorrow where joy, and laughter where the tear ; 
 Plenty where hunger dwells, courage where fear, 
 And hope where dull despair, resolve where 
 
 doubt. • 
 
 Then absent friends, or dead, glide soft about 
 And live within the mind: dread monsters rise. 
 That have no shape on earth — wild glaring eyes 
 Fill every space, while fiendish faces leer, 
 And 'mid their foul contortions disappear. 
 Coiling its icy length, a wreathing snake 
 Enwraps the frame, high to the throat — bones 
 
 break — 
 
20 IMAGINATION. 
 
 It Stings the aching brain. As fancies change, 
 O'er beauty's glowing form we freely range : 
 A fleeting joy ! 'tis now a hideous crone, 
 Fleshless and toothless, hide-bound to the 
 
 bone, 
 Whose shrunken lips emit a vapour foul. 
 Whose blear and hollow eyes affright the soul, 
 That shrinks aghast ! Now cold and slimy 
 
 things 
 Crawl thick around — a vampire sucking clings. 
 Till faints the soul — feather-limbed spiders 
 
 run 
 Unharmed o'er shrinking frames ; and ere the 
 
 sun 
 Throws o'er the waking world his cheerful light, 
 How men alarmed by dreams will curse the 
 
 nights- 
 Shudder at horrors passed, to none the same, 
 And startled Reason wonder whence they came! 
 
IMAGINATION. 21 
 
 Some prophesy from shapes the midnight hour 
 Hath raised, and cheer or droop beneath their 
 
 power : 
 Weak fears that strongest minds will sudden 
 
 feel, 
 And start at shadows which thy elves reveal : 
 Thus harmless visions have inspired more 
 
 dread 
 Than falling axe above the doomed head. 
 
 Now yonder want-pinch'd man holds wealth 
 
 and power, 
 And friends and plenty grace the festive hour. 
 And smiles of health upon his children play, 
 His wife and all around content and gay; 
 Oh! leave him not too soon, increase thy 
 
 charm, 
 And wrap his thin-clad couch with fancies 
 
 warm. 
 
22 IMAGINATION. 
 
 Haunt this man's brains with busy dreams of 
 
 theft, 
 And leave the miser of his gold bereft ; 
 Teach him the pains of poverty to know — 
 How small a dole relieves a weighty woe 
 And rise a better man. Oh ! why with fears 
 Shadow so sweet a soul ? e'en now she 
 
 hears 
 Soft stealthy footsteps, sees a form uprise. 
 Glaring upon her with its fiend-like eyes ; 
 It bares her trembling breast — quick falls the 
 
 blade — 
 She, shrieking, wakes. Now sleep again, sweet 
 
 maid : 
 The sun shines brightly, ne'er so bright before. 
 And balmy waters cool a fragrant shore, 
 Where fairy scenes arise and n)usic sweet, 
 And beauteous birds with songs her presence 
 
 greet ; 
 
IMAGINATION. 23 
 
 A boat glides o'er the water, nears the land, 
 Her lover, smiling, gains the flowery strand ; 
 Joyous they wander through each blissful way, 
 And gain a bower with rose and woodbine gay ; 
 There happy sit. Now comes the demon form 
 And ebon darkness looms — a fearful storm 
 Howls fiercely, wildly by — they, struggling, 
 
 gain 
 A rocky height, which bounds a surging main ; 
 With horrid laugh he hurls them o'er the brink; 
 Embraced they fall, and clasping still they sink; 
 Then comes the choking gasp beneath the 
 
 stream : 
 She, sighing, wakes — and lo ! 'twas but a dream. 
 
 Go, visit yon poor soul, to virtue lost : 
 From side to side her aching head has tossed, 
 And tried in vain to rest — but now she sleeps : 
 Around her father's chair a child she creeps, 
 
24 IMA GIN A TION. 
 
 Or happy sits beneath her mother's smile, 
 Or sports of innocence the hours beguile : 
 Now walks o'er fields to church, there purely 
 
 prays — 
 Now gathering flowers in the meadow strays ; 
 Now loves the youth with all her maiden heart, 
 And feels the pang she felt when, doomed to 
 
 part, 
 With burning vows he urged a lover's claim, 
 Imposed on love, and blighted her good name. 
 The flight from happy home — the sorrows 
 
 known, 
 The penance passed would heavier sin atone : 
 Pursue thy theme — her father seeks his child, 
 Her mother smiles again as once she smil'd ; 
 Bring home-like scenes — the church, the brook, 
 
 the lane. 
 The well-stacked ricks, the fields of waving 
 
 grain. 
 
IMA GIN A TION. 25 
 
 The simple village song, the rustic glee, 
 With homely game to join in merrily, 
 And so surround her till she seeks to gain 
 Forgiveness from the hearts she rent with pain. 
 Go, play fantastic tricks with yon poor clown, 
 Place on his brainless head a jewelled crown ; 
 Clad in the robes how like a king he looks, 
 How well receives his court, how stern rebukes j 
 Now acts the tyrant — 'tis an easy thing 
 With wealth and wise men's aid to play the king. 
 His former poverty he knows no more. 
 And humbles those to whom he crouched 
 
 before ; 
 Till, swollen big with pride and pomp and state, 
 And black with crime, his suffering people 
 
 hate. 
 Rise, and dethrone him — to the scaffold bring : 
 He, shuddering, wakes — thanks God he's not a 
 
 king! 
 
26 IMA GIN A TION. 
 
 Glide softly o'er the bed where childhood Hes, 
 And waft her Httle soul to sun-lit skies, 
 And let her nestle to her tender breast, 
 The gentle dove that happy there would rest : 
 The simple daisy and the primrose bring, 
 With warbling birds their sweetest notes to 
 
 sing. 
 And train her growing heart with acts of grace, 
 To rise with happy thoughts and srniling face, 
 And calm with pleasing flights her youthful 
 
 fears, 
 And keep the gloomier dreams from tender 
 
 years. 
 
 Give those in distant lands sweet dreams of 
 
 home. 
 Faint shadows of a bliss that ne'er may come ; 
 Grant to ambition's soul its wild desire. 
 Expand and train it with thy visioned fire 
 
IMAGINATION. 27 
 
 To rise with brilliant thoughts ; soothe hearts 
 
 toil-worn, 
 And lull them into quiet ere the morn 
 With sunny smile steal o'er their waking eyes ; 
 Soften the callous heart on down that lies, 
 Which left a noble-minded erring son 
 To stem the torrent of the world alone. 
 Without his guiding hand to aid, and bless. 
 Forgiveness bring : let him in dreams caress 
 And welcome home his child. Go, calm the face 
 That even frowns in sleep ; remove the trace 
 Of deep revenge it wears ; in dreams pursue, 
 And in his victim's blood his hands imbrue ; 
 With wily smile he hides his purpose ft- 11 : 
 They gain a lonely road, a leafy dell — 
 Thence flies a soul unwarned to meet its doom, 
 The body falls where fragrant flowers bloom ! 
 He shuns the ways of men, avoids each gaze — 
 For fiery thoughts within his senses blaze, 
 
2 8 IMA GIN A TI ON. 
 
 Now mocking demons bring the bleeding corse — 
 Some make it stand erect with fiendish force, 
 Now set them face to face^see ! now it stalks, 
 And of his coming doom derisive talks ; , 
 Now bid him kiss the wound, now quaff the 
 
 blood 
 Which all around him flows, a crimson flood ; 
 The jeering fiends prevent his hopes of flight, 
 And hold him as it swells to fearful height ; 
 It nears his throat, he feels he sinks to die — 
 Now let another fancy round him fly. 
 Let Justice seize him with her iron hand ; 
 Let the keen law its surest forces band : 
 A felon bound and capped — the bolt withdrawn, 
 Down, down, he falls, but wakes to bless the 
 
 dawn. 
 
 Cool the high fevered frame so hotly pressed, 
 And fan with breezes his few hours of rest, 
 
IMA GIN A TION. 29 
 
 Let angels float in radiant streams of light, 
 And hidden choirs his listening ears delight; 
 Sweet roseate gales upon his temples play, 
 And founts of scented waters throw their spray 
 O'er yielding flowers, whose beauties never fade, 
 Now show the spot where once his form hath laid ; 
 Where birds in tuneful notes eternal sing, 
 And glowing scenes fresh beauties ever bring. 
 
 Lead on, -thou mystic force! to snow-capp'd 
 
 height, 
 And bring the universe within our sight : 
 Each upward step reveals a grander scene — 
 The bramble, olive with its silvery sheen. 
 The hardy box, and higher still the fir. 
 Where clumsy bears, gaunt wolves, keen foxes 
 
 stir, 
 Where streamlets clear run on in sinuous way. 
 From small cascades, increasing in their play. 
 
30 IMAGINATION. 
 
 And wider growing, fiercer in their fall, 
 Down to the earth where cataracts appal, 
 Then glide meandering the meadows through, 
 Where cities swell the splendour of the view — 
 Where distant oceans sleep, vast mountains rise 
 In solemn grandeur, blending with the skies. 
 While far above the heights that man may 
 
 gain, 
 The stately eagle soars — alone to reign ; 
 Oh ! let me higher mount, more beauties 
 
 seize — 
 Where flows from heaven the ethereal breeze — 
 Nearer to heaven yet — where clouds float by, 
 'Mid golden hues that tint them as they fly. 
 If eye could ken God's universal ways, 
 Earth's scenes and life, with heaven- directed 
 
 gaze — 
 See cities in their boasted glory shine, 
 The greatest as an atom — man divine 
 
IMAGINATION. 31 
 
 Swarming in myriads on that atom's face, 
 And mountains, seas, and rivers, each have 
 
 place — 
 Would it not lessen pride and foolish hate. 
 Bring down the tinsell'd pomp and fading 
 
 state — 
 Remove the curse of war, where men destroy, 
 To gem a crown and swell ambition's joy ! 
 
 Creator of romance, in whose charmed space 
 Flit all the horrors that affright our race. 
 At solemn hour the phantom shade appears ; 
 With hollow voice its spectral hand uprears 
 And leads the awful way. 'Mid groans and 
 
 cries 
 Dry fleshless heads with bony frames uprise — 
 With horrid rattle fill the gloomy air 
 And dance to clattering bones. Now forms once 
 
 fair 
 
32 IMAGINATION. 
 
 Reveal a loathsome mass, all black, all foul, 
 With monsters tugging at the heart, who growl 
 And tear and gnaw ; in dungeons drear and 
 
 dank 
 Th' imprisoned wretch is fed by spectres lank 
 And grim, who come, 'mid fire and clanking 
 
 chains, 
 With gloomy ghost-like pace. Distraught with 
 
 pains 
 The tortured soul doth walk for given time 
 The earth, as penance to atone for crime. 
 'Mid church-yard gloom in shrouds pale corses 
 
 rise 
 And show corruption's work ; — the glaring eyes 
 Roll fiercely on, while thin-limbed goblins skip 
 And tease poor mortal wights ; a phantom ship. 
 With silent breathless crew, glides o'er the 
 
 wave, 
 Affrighting Neptune's sons— men dare not brave 
 
■ IMAGINATION, 33 
 
 Yon abbey's haunted aisles, where shrieks and 
 
 groans 
 Are heard and monkish shapes are seen — with 
 
 bones 
 Kobolds play shuddering games — across the 
 
 moor 
 Light dance the will-o'-th'-wisps — beneath the 
 
 floor 
 The. death-watch warning ticks — the winding 
 
 sheet 
 Its gloomy portent gives — while from the street 
 The horrid howl of dogs assails the ear, 
 And fills the mind with superstitious fear. ■ 
 At midnight hour, weird witches, lean and old. 
 The hissing cauldron fill ; enchanters bold 
 Stand in the mystic ring, with mirrors show 
 The shades of coming fate ; solemn and slow 
 They chaunt the horrid verse : with cards and lies 
 The fortune-telling hag bids men despise 
 
34 IMA GIN A TION. 
 
 The coming ill, and trust to promised wealth 
 That vainly she fortells ; gipsies give health 
 And fortune, husbands, wives, and children fair 
 Ere courtship comes ; bright fairies float in air, 
 Or, where the silver moonbeams softly shine, 
 'Neath scented cowslips, and to sounds divine 
 Their merry revels keep, in changeful guise 
 From roses glide, or playing fountains rise, 
 A nd bless a favoured damsel's beauteous face .' 
 With beauty still more fair — with perfect grace, 
 With mines of wealth and knowledge, varied 
 
 charms 
 To win all hearts^ — or in some shape alarms 
 And checks the wicked soul. In every land 
 Some fabled Genius dwells, whose wond'rous 
 
 hand 
 Makes fairy scenes arise, trees wondrous flower, 
 Charmed springs to drink for beauty, wealth, or 
 
 power— 
 
IMAGINATION. 35 
 
 Rocks change to palaces of burnished gold, 
 Pebbles to precious stones, the young makes old : 
 Good-humoured pixies lend their friendly aid 
 To toiling mortals and their fortunes made, 
 Or elves their midnight work ; or gnomes have 
 
 shown 
 Their hidden mines of wealth, and pigmies 
 
 grown 
 To manhood's noble form — sprites light and gay 
 Have played their sportive tricks, confus'd the 
 
 way 
 Of addle-headed clowns — their powers are 
 
 known 
 In every phase of life — their forms have grown 
 With youthful years, when fairy tales delight. 
 To years mature — 'tis then Thy form of light 
 Relieves life's weighty cares — makes man trust 
 
 more 
 To Fortune's jewelled smile — from fancy's store 
 
36 IMAGINATION. 
 
 O'ercome the troubles that around him fly, 
 And, ever dreaming good, hope on, and die ! 
 
 To what great thoughts Thy soul hath given 
 
 birth — 
 What brilliant fancies to enrich the earth ! 
 What noble themes to light the glowing way 
 Imagination strews with flowers gay ! 
 Thy dreaming children walk with visioned tread. 
 By Harmony through her sweet windings led. 
 That Homer, Virgil, Shakespeare, Milton trod, 
 And tuned the songs that flowed direct from 
 
 God- 
 Breathed mighty thoughts for man, bright hopes 
 
 to cheer, 
 And made immortal what seemed mortal here. 
 On Fame's high throne the never-fading wreath 
 Adorns the poet's brow — his thoughts have 
 
 breath 
 
IMAGINATION. 37 
 
 And life and tongue, though the bright spirit's 
 
 fled; 
 On earth he lives, nor ever will be dead : 
 The tide of time so softly gliding by- 
 Will bear his name to far posterity. 
 
 With Thee, Astronomy, with daring flight. 
 Soars through the heaven, and its worlds of 
 
 light- 
 Clear and defined on mimic globe displays 
 The sun, the moon, the earth, the planets' ways ; 
 Their influence o'er the tide, the flow of time, 
 The power that draws the steel to northern 
 
 clime ; 
 The revolutions of the glittering space, 
 Where darting meteors glide, fixed stars have 
 
 place ; 
 Where comets fly with streams of vivid light. 
 Swift to the sun, and with its powers unite. 
 
38 IMAGINATION. 
 
 Where light shines forth creating earthly day, 
 And where its reign submits to night's dark sway. 
 A soul-born study sprung from heavenly ways, 
 Known and defined in Egypt's ancient days. 
 
 Proud Painting wins from Thee her vivid 
 
 charms, 
 The inspiration that the canvas warms — 
 The rural landscape, where rich beauties teem — 
 The rustic life, where men far happier seem— 
 The sunny tint that summer's eve doth show, 
 The cottage o'er whose porch sweet woodbines 
 
 , grow — 
 The nearer trees, the distant woods and hills — 
 The drinking herds and gently running rills. 
 Thy bolder flight, from history's proud page. 
 Portrays the dead that lived in earlier age. 
 The great events of former stirring times, 
 Heroic actions, virtues, vices, crimes: 
 
IMAGINATION. 39 
 
 Each passion of the soul-expressive face — 
 Grief, gladness, frenzy, horror, rage, have place. 
 The, garb of distant day where fashions live, 
 That language unassisted could not give. 
 Walk round the smiling walls of pictur'd art. 
 And feel thy 'raptured soul admiring start, 
 And own the influence of noble thought, 
 Of imaged beauties to perfection wrought — 
 Bright scenes of fairy land, from poet's dream, 
 The sister arts endow with life the theme, 
 With force, expression, seeming action, speech — 
 Heaven, earth, or hell, their daring souls will 
 reach. 
 
 Sweet Poesy from, Thee her world supplies, 
 Where live the forms that from thine own 
 
 arise, 
 Till rich in beauty the seductive tale 
 Subdues the fancy to its sweet assail. 
 
40 IMAGINATION. 
 
 Then wins the soul to join its chaptered life, 
 Side with the hero in his pictur'd strife, 
 Or dwell with pleasure on descriptions true, 
 As genius brings them perfect to the view. 
 The storm described — the active fancy hears 
 The thunder cloud — the forked light appears, 
 The sounding rain, loud wind, and bounding 
 
 hail. 
 The flash that lights yon upland wood and dale, 
 The stricken tree, the rapid torrent's way. 
 The timid bleat, deep low, and startled neigh, 
 The darkly rolling clouds now grandly bright, 
 The crackling peal — the storm is at its height ; 
 Now slowly comes the calm. The deep clouds fly, 
 And sudden bursts of glory gild the sky. 
 The distant thunders roll — the sparkling trees. 
 The drying roads, the sweetly scented breeze. 
 The joyful trill of birds from wood and hill, 
 Proclaim the storm is past, and heaven is still ! 
 
IMAGINATION. 41 
 
 From Thee come Wit and Humour's happy 
 
 throng, 
 Laughing at quaint conceits of poet's song, 
 As tickled fancy revels with delight, 
 As brilliant sallies burst upon the sight, 
 Or gentler pathos moves a softer vein, 
 As imag'd sorrow fills the heart with pain, 
 Or gloomy horror steals upon the mind 
 That shuddering starts, and looks with fear 
 
 behind ; 
 Or bright romance where orient gems are found, 
 And genii, fairies, sorcerers abound : 
 The tales of chivalry, the lists, the knight, 
 The Queen of Beauty who rewards the fight ; 
 The deeds of great men find their record 
 
 there, 
 And show the characters, or foul or fair ; 
 Thus mind the veil uplifts — displays the face 
 Of close society, its outward grace, 
 
42 IMAGINATION. 
 
 Its play of passion, and its source of woe, 
 And pictures every scene that moves below ; 
 Withdraws men from themselves — their brighter 
 
 hours 
 Cheers and enlivens by its pleasing powers 
 As gentle Goldsmith's, whose endearing lore, 
 The soul delighted, reads, and sighs for more — 
 Fielding's or Smollett's — Scott's prolific page, 
 Whom fame immortal leads from age to age — 
 Or Addison, whose blooming fancies rife, 
 Deck with sweet flowers the simplest ways of life. 
 
 With Thee, bold Science holds her certain way, 
 With calm Philosophy divides the sway — 
 Stern facts, hard questions, knotty problems rise, 
 Like mountains to be climbed that pierce the 
 
 skies ; 
 No smooth ascent or purling streams are here — 
 No mossy banks or flowers wild appear ; 
 
IMA GIN A TION. 43 
 
 But rugged ways that earnest minds have known 
 Archimedes and Socrates have shown ; 
 Galileo brave ; and, in these latter days, 
 Clear-sighted Newton saw through Nature's 
 
 ways ; 
 Neglected Watt, the splendid-minded Wren, 
 With all the wise and world-improving men. 
 
 With faultless form proud Sculpture stands 
 
 erect, 
 And bids her sons earth's uncouth shapes select. 
 From her rough bosom splendid fabrics raise, 
 Such as the ancients left for modern praise — 
 Emblems of beauty, from the pregnant past, 
 Proofs that the power of mind will ever last. 
 Was strong and perfect, ages long flown by, 
 Will never fade till comes eternity. 
 The art of Greece, the orders all her own. 
 No new design succeeding years have known : 
 
H IMA GIN A TION. 
 
 Walk thro' her Athens, splendour yet remains- 
 Order with beauty and perfection reigns. 
 See Rome, more favoured, softer touched by 
 
 time, 
 More sacred from the scorch of war's hot crime : 
 Go ! feel thy soul expand with grandeur, then 
 Bow to the genius of creative men. 
 
 Round yonder Roman camp with eager eye, 
 Where time-wrought ruins earth-hid mouldering 
 
 lie, 
 The Antiquary walks, with anxious gaze, 
 His soul embedded in the earlier days. 
 Whose ruin lives : whilst from inscriptions rare 
 He moves the moss-grown earth with tender 
 
 care — 
 'Till ancient names and dates and various deeds 
 Spring to the light from these long-hidden 
 
 seeds : 
 
IMAGINATION. 45 
 
 He visits now the church of ancient date, 
 Whose tomb, oak roof, quaint sculpture, each 
 
 relate 
 The age that fashioned them — choice relics 
 
 these, 
 That show the simple from the age of ease. 
 
 Sweet Music leads a soul-inspiring band, 
 Whose thoughts harmonious flow in every land, 
 Infusing rapture with the well-tuned song — 
 Uplifts the soul when sweet notes glide along 
 The faultless chord — faint sound of heaven's 
 
 choir, 
 Its slightest murmur sent to move desire, 
 Exalt the heart, estrange it from the earth. 
 And make the soul foretaste its heavenly birth. 
 
 With silver voice, at once distinct and fair, 
 Persuasive Eloquence subdues the air, 
 
46 IMAGINATION. 
 
 Enchains the soul to dwell upon her theme, 
 And thus implants the substance of her dream ; 
 Whose thrilling powers stimulate the heart, 
 To play a noble and a glorious part, 
 And draw the human stream of doubting mind 
 To act in concert and success to find. 
 
 The songs of Liberty her sons inspire, 
 Till nations feel the force of freedom's fire, 
 From heart to heart her sacred spirit flies — 
 From age to age, till despotism dies : 
 When Brutus rose he levell'd Tarquin's race — 
 The strong-nerved Tell removed his land's 
 
 disgrace — 
 Our Hampden gain'd the cause for which he 
 
 fell- 
 Stern Cromwell rose upon a monarch's knell. 
 But chief of all stands noble Washington — 
 Fame's gentle-minded uncorrupted son ! 
 
IMA GIN A TION. 47 
 
 Methinks I see his spirit mournful stand, 
 Wailing that slavery degrades his land— '^^ 
 Shuddering responsive to the slave's shrill cry, 
 The lash bemoaning, echoing sigh for sigh. 
 With mournful voice appealing to each heart — 
 ' Play not so vile, so world-appalling part— 
 ' Boast not thy sons are independent, free, 
 ' While lives the barb that wounds thy liberty.' 
 
 I HEAR Thy breathing voice proclaim the day 
 When strife shall cease, and milder themes 
 
 have sway ; 
 Even yet War triumphs over land and sea. 
 And gentle Peace laments man's cruelty ; 
 Fame hath it yet, but Peace War's name 
 
 removes — 
 Her breath destroys whate'er her soul dis- 
 proves ; 
 
 * Written before the abolition of slavery. 
 
4? IMAGINATION. 
 
 Surely, yet gently, as the touch of time, 
 She works his statues proud to undermine ; 
 Lamenting sighs, and urges mournfully — 
 God did not give his image thus to die ! 
 
 END OF THE FIRST PART. 
 
IMAGINATION. 
 
 PART II. 
 
ARGUMENT. 
 
 The power of Imagination throughout life : life under her influence 
 described — her more gloomy existence, illustrated in the episode of 
 ruined woman — her power to heighten the pleasures of life, and of love, 
 created by the adq;iiration of beauty — her soothing power in grief shown 
 — morning described, with the several occupations of man — the morning 
 walk — the incidents and scenes arising therein — the farm yard — the busy 
 day — man's dependence upon the future heightened by the charms of 
 Imagination, or depressed by her frown — her influence throughout —an 
 eulogy to commerce, the conclusion of the day — her anticipation of the 
 comforts and pleasures of the night — the pleasures of the evening and 
 night described — ambition's toil— the gambler — the night-toil's blight 
 — the thief — fallen flowers, and their end — the duel — the power of 
 conscience, and influence of the morning — madness, the wreck of 
 mind, and conceit of lunatics — the metaphysician — the general conclu- 
 sion — the millennium — the last day — the eternal existence of Imagina- 
 tion in Paradise. 
 
PART II. 
 
 Come forth, Imagination ! bright-eyed maid, 
 Come from thy cool retreat in yonder shade, 
 Where sunny flecks through moving tree-tops 
 
 play, 
 
 To cheer the wanderer on his toilsome way ; 
 Where sun-beams sparkle on the shining wave, 
 And heated mortals in its coolness lave ; 
 Where pleasant sounds plash 'gainst advancing 
 
 boats. 
 And song-birds trill their joy with grateful 
 
 throats ; 
 Where happy children's laughter sounds afar. 
 O'er mimic games of chase, or flood, or war ; 
 
52 IMAGINATION. 
 
 Where love, young love, o'er cooing couples 
 
 flies, 
 Who feel their future through their flashing eyes ; 
 Where Age in calm repose and sunshine sits. 
 While he reads out the news she smiling knits. 
 Thy backward look sets both their minds aglow 
 With all their bliss and all their softened woe. 
 
 Imagination ! how Thy siren voice 
 
 With whispers soft makes every heart rejoice, 
 
 Opens the springs whence human actions flow — 
 
 The golden dreams that swell man's bliss below J 
 
 Each age in turn Imagination sways, 
 
 From our first years to manhood's latest days. 
 
 The lisping child, ere he the sweetmeat gains. 
 
 Tastes all its sweetness thro' the well-stored 
 
 panes ; 
 The school boy, seated on the irksome stool, 
 Learning the heavy task by rote or rule, 
 
IMAGINATION. 53 
 
 Thinks of his games upon the village green, 
 
 Each sport more tempting in the fancy seen, 
 
 Bids time fly fast, th' allotted hour to come, 
 
 To join his playmates, or the friends of home. 
 
 The youth, just entering life, Thou leadest on, 
 
 To gain such wreaths as honoured brows have 
 won. 
 
 To play a statesman's or a warrior's part, 
 
 Or sing the beauties that subdue the heart — 
 
 In hopeful teens to think a few short years \ 
 
 Will ripen fruit, where bud alone appears. 
 
 A little while— and then came love's first dream, 
 
 And ere it came, how glowing was thy beam ! 
 
 How warmed each infant sense to feel its bliss, 
 
 The heavenly thrill of love's first timid kiss ! 
 
 So sweetly felt the pleased and blushing maid^ 
 
 Thought in her innocence her, love betray'd. 
 
 Her lips, love-press'd may yet retain some sign. 
 
 That she has tasted bliss on earth divine ; 
 
54 IMAGINATION. 
 
 While he enraptured gains his lonely bed. 
 Where imaged beauties float around his head. 
 The silver voice, the love-lit flashing eye, 
 The balmy breath, the soft ecstatic sigh, 
 The tender pressure of the snow-white hand, 
 Rais,e blissful hopes within the lover's land ; 
 And when he sleeps, her form he sees arise, 
 Illume his dreams as angels light the skies. 
 A change, a step of time, a few sands flow, 
 Love's first dream past now Hymen's joys they 
 
 know. 
 On, on, for many steps, yet still Thy hand 
 Beckons him forward with Thy glittering 
 
 wand. 
 He knows life's woes, yet thy seductive light 
 Pictures his children's happiness more bright ; 
 His sons, pursuing honour's arduous way, 
 His daughters, crown'd with virtue's modest 
 
 ray, 
 
IMAGINATION. 55 
 
 He walks life's broad way with a parent's pride, 
 With manhood's, virgin's bloom on either side. 
 And though he numbers thrice their budding 
 
 years, • • , ,■ 
 
 Life's winters snow his head, care's wave 
 
 appears. 
 Though time, as earth - bends Atlas, bows his 
 
 frame, ' 
 
 Destroys the symmetry that youth beqame, 
 Th' impoverish'd blood in lessened channels 
 
 flows. 
 His fr9;me the track of many winters shows. 
 His soul o'erlooks the wreck of bygone time, 
 It feels no loss, is ever in its prime. ^ — 
 Thus in this life, ■whose beauties gently fade, 
 Thy miri-or hides the furrows^ Time hath 
 
 made, 
 And shows the soul her everlasting life, 
 When worldly passions are no longer rife. 
 
56 IMAGINATION. 
 
 When stolen pleasure's transient bliss is o'er, 
 And sorrows reign where joys were known 
 
 before, . 
 The world that sins, on sin exposed will frown, 
 Till frenzy's pangs Thy gloomiest efforts crown ; 
 Thus ruined woman dreads the life she bears, 
 And 'neath the waters plunging ends her fears ; 
 While man, the once fond lover, , thinks no 
 
 more 
 Of confidence betrayed, though prized before ; 
 Perchance in after years, when children smile, 
 Clouds may arise of former sin and guile, 
 May make him clasp a daughter to his heart, ' 
 And dread lest others play so vile a part : 
 Ruin a parent's hope, as he betrayed 
 A gentle, loving^ and too- trusting maid. 
 
 When beauty's flowing robes, with gentle play, 
 Sweep proudly by, and touch us in their way, ■ 
 
IMA GIN A TION. 5 i 
 
 Or if in graceful dance we clasp the form, 
 How wild the passions throb, how fierce the 
 
 storm ! 
 Or tender pressure move the love-warm hand. 
 The quiet trembling bliss, who can withstand ? 
 If favoured more — a chance — no soul is nigh — r 
 A heaven-born kiss bestows its ecstasy — 
 Then happiness, with wings as light as air, 
 Wafts mingling souls from earth with transports 
 
 ■ rare, 
 While joy throws o'er the eyes its blissful veil,. 
 And in love's sea two souls united sail, 
 Then sigh to meet again, and meeting, sigh 
 For that faint gleam , of heaven's reality. 
 
 When griefs oppress the heart, the active . 
 
 mind 
 Hopes from Thy soothing powers content to 
 
 find, 
 
S8 IMAGINATION. 
 
 Clings to the spot where lost affections lie; ' " 
 And weeps that heaven so kind should let them 
 
 die. 
 He reads the epitaph, the words his own, 
 A record of her worth in lover s tone ; 
 And yet most true, for purity refined 
 With every virtue, graced her heaven-born 
 
 mind. 
 When deep in woe he leans upon the tomb, 
 And sorrow fills the heart with fearful gloom. 
 Thou gently pdurest balm upon the wound. 
 As thy sweet visions soothing float around ,' 
 Once more he sues and wins her gentle heart, " 
 And fondly dreams they ne'er again shall 
 
 part ; 
 As memory revels o'er departed bliss, \ ,[ 
 
 He feels her lips imprint the warm love-kiss. 
 Or wanders with her through the shady walk, 
 And listens to the dreams young love will talk, 
 
IMAGINATION. ly 
 
 So bright with earnest hope of future joy, 
 That youth will speak ere care brings Hfe's alloy : 
 TJiis was in, sunny days, when nature's bloom ^ 
 And blushing cheek her then bright eyes illume ; 
 He sees her wasting now 'neath chilling sky. 
 Again attentive w^its, withholds the sigh 
 That swells his heart, as she herself deceives, 
 And fondly ih the future still believes ; 
 Though hectic flush betrays the blight that 
 
 kills— 
 Though fever heats, or icy coldness chills, . 
 Each passing day its fearful ravage shows. 
 Yet still with brighter hope her spirit glows : 
 Speaking her love, and chiding his alarms — 
 She dies, O God ! — she dies within his arms ! 
 
 When night's dark shades retreat before the 
 
 .. . morn,. 
 
 And Fashion sleeps, the cooling breezes borne 
 
6o IMA GIN A TION. 
 
 On the bright wings of dawn, refresh the brow 
 Of peasants whistling as they drive the plough ; 
 Light shines upon the meadows and the trees, 
 And sparkles o'er the waters with the breeze ; 
 Now rising larks high warbling hail the day, 
 And cheer men to their toil. Lambs sportive 
 
 , play 
 Around their dams; the chanticleer's proud crow 
 From distant homesteads rings : now farmers sow 
 The seed, and sowing reckon future wealth ; 
 Now starts the wily fox, with cautious stealth 
 Along the running hedge ; the pack's full cry 
 Proclaims his course — huntsmen ride gaily by 
 To urge the victim's death ; the loaded wain 
 With rustic tinkling bells, carries the grain 
 That men exchange for gold. We gain the 
 
 stream. 
 And walk along its banks, where , sunbeams 
 
 gleam 
 
IMAGINATION. 6i 
 
 Through shady trees ; where patient anglers 
 
 wait, 
 And for its fancied treasures ply the bait, . 
 With writhing worms, and watch the dancing 
 
 float: 
 With steady progress glides the horse-drawn boat 
 Laden with ware's, that man's industrial skill 
 Fashions to use, Hark to that whistle shrill ■ 
 And loud, the human-freighted train darts by, 
 And swift retreats from sight ; hot embers fly 
 And dance along the earth. The startled steed, 
 With head erect and sinews knit for speed. 
 With neigh defiant gallops o'er the, plain. 
 In race ujiequal with the rapid train : 
 We gain the road where healthful faces pass, 
 And change good morrow with each blooming 
 
 lass 
 Who trots to market with the dairy's store, 
 Singing a simple lay of yiUage lore, 
 
62 IMA GIN A TION. 
 
 In distance heard as soft it glides away. 
 Light laughter rings from rosy children gay ; 
 The startled linnet and the chaffinch fly, 
 In timid haste, as travellers pass by 
 The varied tinted hedge of cheerful green, 
 Where primrose smiles, sweet violets are seen : 
 In yonder busy farm, with martial air, 
 The threatening turkey struts — g, hen with 
 
 care 
 Keeps warm and safe from ills her little brood, 
 With mother's love, and cackling finds them 
 
 food ; 
 The modest cattle, knee-deep, wade the pool, 
 And tired horses seek its waters cool ; 
 The noisy ducks run waddling to the stream. 
 There graceful float, or dive^thq peacock's 
 
 scream 
 Discordant strikes the ear — geese lazy lie, 
 Or active nip the grass — from open stye 
 
IMA GIN A TION. 63 
 
 The spotted litter comes — the cooing flight 
 With fluttering sound ascends the airy height, 
 In circuit flies, and scans the country round — 
 The singing maid the milching cow brings round. 
 And draws its treasure forth ; the sound of flails 
 From thatched and mossy barn the ear assails 
 By willing thrashers used ; in kennel housed, 
 The packs deep bay some fancy hath aroused. 
 To which the watch-dog gives responsive howl, 
 Or warns the stranger with a sullen growl. 
 The honest rustic tramping to the town, 
 With stick and bundle, hat of hazel brown ; 
 Now flocks and herds by dogs sagacious led, 
 And heated drovers thirsting hang the head ; 
 Now plodding travellers thickly stud the way, 
 Some from the crowded coach send laughter 
 
 gay 
 
 To ring upon the ear ; each anxious mind 
 Thinks o'er the coming day, that sad or kind 
 
64 IMA GIN A TION. 
 
 Will close ; — Thy forms and voice are active 
 
 now, 
 Thoughts bright or sad depress or raise the 
 
 brow. 
 What thousands stream along the busy street, 
 In full pursuit of gain ! Running we meet 
 The lazy youth, whom the seductive bed 
 Kept late enthrall'd, fill'd with the anxious 
 
 dread 
 Of angry looks and Words ; fresh crowds arrive — 
 The city teems with life, ev'n as the hive 
 Sends forth its swafms ; men anxious eye the 
 
 Post— 
 A wafer hides a fortune won or lost 
 In speculation's game ; rich glittering wares 
 Lie full exposed with trader's wily snares, 
 To tempt the eye and purse. But one hour 
 
 more — 
 Then commerce briskly moves, to fashion's store 
 
IMAGINATION. 65 
 
 Good-wives, fair daughters flocking, grace the 
 
 way 
 With smiles, while blooming beauties look away, 
 And slyly court, while they avoid the gaze 
 Warm admiration gives ; in rude amaze, 
 The honest yeoman, with enraptured eye. 
 Looks on the wonders round, while dext'rously 
 The cunning thief empties his pockets wide. 
 Now loaded vans, trim carts, light chaises glide, 
 Well crowded vehicles, smart horsemen prove 
 Their skill as through the .maze they move 
 Expert and safe ; while beggars crawling by 
 Assail the feeling heart through ear or eye. 
 By bandaged limb, or piteous moving plaint, 
 Or dog-led, load the air with solemn cant, 
 Or tortured children's sobs. The hawker tries 
 To sell his little wares with stifled cries 
 Authority doth check. The carriage gay, 
 With gaudy liv'ries stately wends its way, 
 
66 IMAGINATION. 
 
 And fires the heart of young Ambition, till 
 It gain like ease by industry or skill, 
 By tricks or honest trade; slow moves the hearse, 
 Whose mournful plumes wave over death, the 
 
 curse 
 For Eden's sin, and checks the busy thought, 
 While gloomy meditation comes unsought, 
 And warns man of his end. With sounding horn 
 The mail commands clear space; at eve, at morn 
 The needy honest trader moves apace. 
 To save his family the keen disgrace 
 Of ruined credit, runs from friend to friend, 
 And oft repulsed, still hopes the next will lend. 
 Now news late issued stops the busy way. 
 With gaping crowds, and interests the day; 
 We gain the river side whose waters teem, 
 With crafts deep-laden, pleasure boats of steam. 
 The clumsy barge that drifts before the tide, 
 And freighted wherries that more swiftly glide; 
 
IMAGINATION. 67 
 
 The well stored docks, where ocean's monarchs 
 
 rest, 
 Proudly and safely with fair wealth possest. 
 Produce of distant lands. O ! Enterprise, 
 Far-seeing spirit, who from dreams didst rise 
 To bless the human race, whence Commerce 
 
 sprung, 
 With all her mighty good, thy power is sung 
 And felt from shore to shore! What labour 
 
 lives 
 Beneath thy fost'ring hand, that freely gives 
 For each day's work its honest daily bread 
 Content to many homes. Thy voice hath led, 
 Heighten'd by bright Imagination's glow, 
 Earth's daring sons extremes of clime to know, 
 And gain her envied wealth. The day fades fast, 
 With it what num'rous cares or joys have passed 
 O'er human hearts ! The city's outlets pour 
 Their life into the main ; from ev'ry door, 
 
68 IMAGINATION. 
 
 From curious nooks and alleys, places strange, 
 The sons of commerce their " good nights " 
 
 exchange, 
 For home or pleasure bound, delighted leave 
 By rapid rail, slow coach, or boat, to breathe 
 The, country's balmy air ; the needy walk ; 
 East, west, north, south is fill'd with happy talk 
 And smiling men, the busy day once o'er. 
 Home's joys and pleasures cheer; moving before 
 Thou show'st the smiling wife with children 
 
 dear. 
 Who anxious wait the hour when they appear. 
 And warm embracing greet. The lover sees 
 His chosen fair essay her skill to please, 
 Fly to the door when his known step is heard. 
 To gain love's kiss, and soft endearing word. 
 Now Pleasure tempts the world with glitt'ring 
 
 wings, . 
 To grace the night her merry troop she brings 
 
IMAGINATION. ' 69 
 
 In pleasing guise ; some pass the social hour 
 In harmless games ; 'neath comfort's cheering 
 
 power, 
 Flies the gay tinie, till sleepy Morpheus come, 
 In drowsy mood, then youth and age succumb 
 Beneath his touch, and seek the welcome bed. 
 Some love the stage, by farce or drama led. 
 To have the merry thought or anxious fear. 
 The pleasant laugh or sympathising tear. 
 In turn aroused : with light and active tread 
 To lively music, through the graceful thread 
 Of giddy dance, fair maids and sprightly youths 
 Join midnight to the morn ; the ballad soothes 
 With simple strain ; or music's higher art 
 The classic soul delights. Ambition's part 
 It is, while pleasure laughs at midnight hour, 
 By flickering light, to summon to his power 
 The airy visions of the high-wrought brain. 
 And give them perfect to the world, a gain. 
 
70 IMA GIN A TION. 
 
 An offering laid by genius on the shrine 
 Of fame for its great meed. Lights brilHant shine 
 On glittering gold in yonder hell : hark ! hark ! 
 To that curs'd rattle ; see those faces dark 
 With selfish thoughts — the hand shakes in the 
 
 air — 
 The dice fall on the board — wild lo6ks are there, 
 Chance sides against the vice-entangled mind, 
 Which trusts to fortune, doubly false and blind : 
 When gamesters risk the throw — all, all, is lost — 
 See ! how remorse the heated brain hath tost 
 Into delirium's tide! wild thoughts are there, 
 And suicidal, urg'd by blank despair. 
 The muzzle's on the brow, a flash — a fall — 
 The brain that moved the deed now clots the 
 
 wall : 
 The spirit meets its God !- The streets are 
 
 quiet — 
 And silence reigns around ; till drunken riot, 
 
IMAGINATION. 71 
 
 With alcoholic voice, aimless and loud, 
 Disturbs the sleeper's rest. What sufferings 
 
 crowd 
 In yonder room, whose casement throws the 
 
 light 
 Into the sullen air ! There night-toil's blight 
 Falls o'er the youthful hearts, which waste and 
 
 die — 
 Consumption's worm is there, its heavy eye 
 And aching brain ; the needle pucks its way — 
 A bridal vesture snowy-white and gay 
 Robs maidens of their rest, to deck the proud — 
 The hands that form its beauty weave a 
 
 shroud : 
 The night wears on apace. Now keen patrol 
 Passes with steady foot, and keeps control 
 O'er roguery's midnight knaves — for men there 
 
 are. 
 When darkness looms around, from secret lair. 
 
72 IMAGINATION. 
 
 While inmates sleep, steal to the chest where 
 
 gold, 
 And plate, and jewels shine, then from the 
 
 hold 
 The choicest take. Now Vice's daughters ply; 
 With soft fair speech they tempt the passer by : 
 But blind must be the soul who hopes to sip 
 Sweets from flowers dank, truth from false- 
 hood's lip. 
 Or joy from woe : can the cold carmined cheek 
 Vie with the modest blush, or eyes that speak 
 Falsely with those love lights : or fragrant 
 
 breath 
 Of innocence with that from living death 
 Noisome exhaled ? Alas! through wet, through 
 
 cold, 
 A blighted) fevered life is theirs, and old 
 Whilst young, virtue's endearments lost. 
 Their doom an early grave, sin's fearful cost 
 
IMAGINATION. 73 
 
 Now Honour, falsely called, snaps friendship's 
 
 band. 
 To please a careless world withholds the hand. 
 And checks the noble soul that would with- 
 draw 
 Passion's quick-uttered word, and warmly thaw 
 Revenge's icy heart ; now face to face, 
 While heartless seconds count the -measured 
 
 space, 
 They stand 'tween life and death ; red murder 
 
 glares 
 With blood-stained eyes^ as each proud soul 
 
 forbears 
 The advance to make ; look now ! erect and full 
 Of life they stand ; pause ere their fingers pull 
 The fatal spring — the bullet's rapid force 
 Hurls one to earth, a hapless bleeding corse. 
 The leap, the form convulsed, will often lower, 
 Recalled by conscience in life's silent hour. 
 
74 I^IA GIN A TION. 
 
 Now the fast paling moon fades, as the sun 
 Uprising gilds the east ; the morn's begun ; 
 With rosy smiles it cheers the coming day — 
 Man's soul, like nature's, makes serene and gay. 
 
 How grand Thou art in madness— there supreme 
 
 Thy aerial visions live in rays extreme 
 
 To reason's calmer thought ; the o'er-wrought 
 
 brain 
 Hath snappqd its reasoning cord, by sorrow, pain, 
 Or guilt ; o'erturned or weakened in its power. 
 Some fancies wander as in childhood's hour ; 
 Some more intense, ev'n as a mighty fire 
 Fanned by the breeze, uncheck'd its wild desire, 
 Flaming floats grandly on : with reason's wreck 
 Bold thoughts arise, nor doubt ere comes to 
 
 check 
 The phantom-grasping mind. 'Tis wondrous true 
 That all that's great or good to ear or view, 
 
IMAGINATION. 75 
 
 The phrenzied soul doth seize, ecstatic flights 
 And joys, the bhss of nature's wild delights. 
 Reveal Thy spirit's brain-wove phantasies ! 
 Who gave yon madman thoughts that heaven 
 
 supplies, 
 That breathe he is a God ? With mercy's look, 
 That lights his face, he gently will rebuke 
 His vague companions, whilst he tells them 
 
 earth 
 And heaven are his ; that plenty, drought, and 
 
 dearth 
 His will ordains, then wilder, warmer glows. 
 Sits in a sunbeam, and his arms upthrows ; 
 Loudly condemns the world. Across his eye, 
 On summer breezes borne, a tiny fly 
 Diverts his wrath. Another mildly talks 
 The Saviour's precepts as he meekly walks 
 The allotted space — a flower wreath adorns 
 His brow for glory or a crown of thorns, 
 
76 IMAGINATION. 
 
 As the soft fancies change. The weeping maid, 
 Who sighing mocks the breeze, yon man hath 
 
 made 
 The Lord's anointing Mary, she with tears, 
 And patient fondness for three hopeful years 
 Her lover's coming looked, and still believes 
 His friends forbid him — 'tis not he deceives, 
 Or stays from love so true ; in one short year 
 Will mourn him dead, and scraps of crape will 
 
 wear, 
 And fondly feed her vows that she is true 
 And ne'er will love again. A gloomy hue 
 Shades this poor mortal's mind ; in reason's day 
 A kinder soul ne'er beamed ; across his way 
 The insect unharmed ran ; by slow degrees 
 His reason wandered ; now he ever sees 
 Through clouded vision, blood upon his hand ; 
 His forehead, Cain-like, bear the signal brand 
 That God ordained for murder. By-and-by 
 
IMA GIN A TION. 77 
 
 The day arrives when he's condemned to die ; 
 This day once past, the first mad fancy flies, 
 He deems this life is o'er, to-day he dies : 
 That he's a spirit doomed for coming years, 
 To purge away his sins ; he thinks and fears 
 The kdepers fiends, the sad Asylum hell. 
 Dread horrors fill yon madman's soul, and swell 
 To things deformed and loathed, who scoff, and 
 
 point. 
 And coil their snake-like bodies without joint, 
 And kiss him with their slimy lips ; the air 
 Holds objects wild and strange — with mad 
 
 despair 
 He tries to fight them off; fatigued at last. 
 He sinks ; while through the awful night the 
 
 blast 
 Gives mournful moans and shrieks, he seems to 
 
 breathe 
 Things foul and horrible ; snakes hissing wreathe, 
 
78 IMAGINATION. 
 
 Snails icy crawl, and nerveless jellied slug 
 Passes his gaping lips ; the vilest drug, 
 Nauseous and sickening, his best food appears. 
 And these dire fancies haunt his mind for 
 
 years. 
 Ere milder madness comes. As Satan, this 
 Will whisper in each ear of sin the bliss, 
 And tell them how in mightier days he fought 
 Lord God Almighty; how th' archangel brought 
 And chained him to this spot : he strives to win 
 His fellow-sufferers to deeds of sin ; 
 To rise in proud rebellion, gives them names 
 Accurst in holy writ, and jeering blames 
 Their want of will to act — his schemes will hide 
 In childish play. 'Tis that poor soldier's pride 
 To pile around, in pyramidal form, 
 Small stones, for iron shot, and take by storm 
 Yon hillock's brow ; to scale and plant on high 
 His 'kerchief small, and hail it with the cry 
 
IMA GIN A TION. 79 
 
 Of victory. Would battles bloodless were 
 As this poor warrior's are ! With mocking air 
 He styles himself Napoleon, with glee 
 He speaks of red fields lost or won, when he 
 
 was free ; 
 Of scenes of blood — how glorious 'tis to kill — 
 See bleeding myriads fall to please one will. 
 Then walks sedate, arms firmly crossed abreast. 
 And scowls and frowns as he who once possessed 
 The name, and shed the life of millions 
 In sanguinary might. Another shuns 
 The rest, seeks quiet ways, and holds his 
 
 speech 
 In sullen mood. A spider's out of reach 
 Spinning his wily snare ; in watchful state 
 One sits, and calls his work the web of fate ; 
 The limb-bound flies his victims. Mind's sad 
 
 wreck 
 Floats wildly round, nor comes its aid to check 
 
8o IMAGINATION. 
 
 The emperors, kings, and queens that madness 
 
 dreams ; 
 Bedeck'd in fancy's garb that flattering seems 
 A regal robe, here hold their visioned sway 
 O'er earth and its dominions. Souls more gay 
 Fashion conceits, and laugh and cry by turns ; 
 A catholic now apes the Pope, and spurns 
 As heretics all else ; a protestant, 
 With cap as mitre in a frenzied chant, 
 Will doom the out-paled Pope. One loudly 
 
 sings ; 
 Some gaily dance. A mother smiling brings 
 A papered doll, and fondly thinks 'tis fair. 
 Praises its lips, bright eyes, and flaxen hair, 
 Then, swift embracing, sings a lullaby, 
 With burning kisses mixed. Some deem the sky 
 And stars are angels, and the moon so round 
 Heaven's bright realm. And think a tune the 
 
 sound 
 
IMA GIN A TION. 8 1 
 
 That discord beats upon a tub. Lost mind 
 Will boast the linguist's lore, nor ever find 
 Or think its memory wrong. Now seated high 
 On flatten'd post, one drives a phantasy, 
 Coaxes and soothes, or gives an oath in turn. 
 As steeds run well or restive. Fancies burn 
 Within this flaming mind, who foaming rends 
 Strong bands, and bites, and tears, and fierce 
 
 contends 
 With arms that keep him down ; with deafening 
 
 yells 
 He shouts defiance, as herculean swells 
 Each muscle, madness gives a strength unknown 
 To reason's play. That man hath vainly blown 
 A heap of sun-dried sticks, nor will he tire ; 
 He dreams it is ordained his hands shall fire 
 The world on its last day. Some cunning 
 
 hide 
 Small shining things and bits of silk, and pride 
 
82 IMAGINATION. 
 
 Themselves upon their wealth. Some think 
 
 they swell 
 To giant's size, or simple stories tell 
 With air mysterious. A statesman writes 
 Despatches long with serious face, and bites 
 The stick he deems a pen, and thinks he seals 
 The world's proud destiny. Here one reveals 
 A scroll ; with lips attuned to trumpet's noise 
 Proclaims the list of fame. One tries to poise 
 His body on his toe, with madman's mirth ; 
 Describes himself the axis of the earth, 
 And quickly turning moves. An actor lives 
 The madman now that once he played, and gives 
 Strange gestures, high flown words, and poet's 
 
 thought ' 
 
 That memory still retains. A child hath 
 
 caught 
 A simple boy, whom reason never blest, 
 Though nature gave a soul, which ne'er can test 
 
IMAGINATION. 83 
 
 The power of right or wrongf — a struggling bee, 
 From which he pulls the sting and then with 
 
 glee 
 Its silver wings and legs, its mangled form 
 •Still gleeful tears, nor knows its pain. A storm 
 Arouses to the pitch of ecstasy 
 Yon man, who deems himself ordained to see 
 The judgment day, and thinks the light's the rod. 
 The pealing thunder is the voice of God, 
 The flying clouds His robe. A thistle down 
 One blows, to bid his sweetheart come and 
 
 crown 
 His love, whom demons hold, bids it go. soothe 
 And prove to her his vows. 'Tis a sad truth, 
 Religion's sons too fervid in their zeal. 
 Whom mad enthusiasts have caused to feel 
 Too keen a sense of sin, throng thickly here : 
 These gloomy thoughts depress, and death's 
 
 worst fear. 
 
84 IMA GIN A TION. 
 
 Their timid souls subdue. On whiten'd wall 
 With rusty nail an artist's hand will scrawl 
 His fancies wild and strange. A poor man tries 
 To sell his visioned wares, and vainly cries 
 In tuneful voice spring flowers or summer fruit, 
 Th' autumn nut, or grape, or pear to suit 
 With sweet and fragrant coolness every taste. 
 Conceits fly wildly round — ideas unchaste 
 In souls once pure now live, and thoughts of, 
 
 crime 
 And deep revenge and hate. Bring soothing 
 
 time 
 To cool the fevered heat of wandering mind, 
 Let Reason's stronger sons, where'er they find 
 A waning soul, use all their cheering powers 
 To raise with tender hand these drooping 
 
 flowers. 
 For who can tell, how strong the mind to-day, 
 What sudden chance may startle reason's ray, 
 
IMAGINATION. 85 
 
 Some hid disease, a sorrow, passing fright, 
 Send the great mind to madness, or to night ! 
 
 Some would etherealise this mortal frame 
 And call existence but a phantom flame — 
 The world with all its beauties only Thine, 
 An imaged splendour when the sunbeams shine, 
 Or softer moon, or sparkling stars — that sense 
 Is but a fiction, and howe'er intense 
 The passion burns, their heat Thy breathings 
 
 fan — 
 Deny that touch or taste belong to man. 
 Holding our life an effluence of the Soul, 
 Which first conceived and framed the mighty 
 
 ;whole. 
 Whose beauty lives around — the child we love, 
 Or wife, or bosom-friend, or foe will prove 
 Part ,of the living dream— a bright conceit 
 And strange, to join this span of years that fleet 
 
86 IMAGINATION. 
 
 So soon, to that Immensity of soul, 
 Which will exist when Time hath lost control, , 
 And earth its form and life ; some doubt our ill 
 Or good, and think our joys but dreams that fill, 
 The soul Not thus our faith — the power of 
 
 mind — 
 Of reason mixed with error, partly blind, 
 Is man's. And yet the human soul shall live 
 Ethereal, when heaven's light its glories 
 
 give. 
 Where perfect beauty lives and man's ideal 
 Shines in the good, the truthful, and the real. 
 
 Now go, my Muse, Imagination's gleams 
 Have now inspirited and filled thy dreams ; 
 Ten thousand sunlit forms illume the way, 
 Ten thousand voices bid Thy soul be gay 
 And full of hope, a soft voice seems to say, 
 Faint, faint thou not— give to the world thy lay 
 
IMA GIN A TION. 87 
 
 Boldly, and pause no more. What ! canst thou 
 
 paint 
 TJie force of courage, yet thyself grow faint — 
 The power of patience, perseverance, will, 
 Yet dread the caustic touch to test thy skill 
 The world's cold hand will give ? Rise I Spirit ! 
 
 rise ! 
 Throw off thy mortal dread, doubt prostrate 
 
 lies 
 And pale and trembling calls on me to pause, 
 While sinking fear. Dismay's keen horny claws 
 Fix on my frame— now ruined Hope glides past 
 With hair dishevelled loosened to the blast. 
 With wringing hands, with lacerated heart — 
 Her life blood oozing from th' envenomed dart 
 Thrown by the critic's hand — dark spirits float 
 While Censure ;brings her willing brood to gloat 
 O'er prostrate Hope. Again the spirits sing, 
 And brighter visions to the fancy bring, 
 
88 IMAGINATION. 
 
 And point their bright ethereal hands to Fame, 
 Who holds the tempting wreath that worth may 
 
 claim 
 When passed the world's ordeal. Now all the 
 
 choir 
 Sings sweetly — Mortal ! if thy soul aspire 
 To gain the laurel crown of fame, press on 
 And win the glorious name ! Spirits, 'tis done — 
 To rise or fall, unaided and unknown. 
 My Muse attempts her flight — the die is thrown ! 
 
 Imagination ! Thy pure essence give, 
 
 To this, to every age ordained to live ; 
 
 Hurl falsehood from the world ; bring smiling 
 
 Truth, 
 Whose noble bearing shows immortal youth, 
 To guide the tongues of men ; with peaceful 
 
 wreath 
 Crown Liberty's proud head, and bid her sheathe 
 
IMAGINATION. 89 
 
 The useless sword, and fly with greeting hand, 
 Till her sweet form is known in every land 
 And fills the nation's heart ; let budding hope 
 Quick blossom into life — increase the scope 
 Of Wisdom's thought — light that new science 
 
 more, 
 Whose silent flash darts swift from, shore to 
 
 shore, 
 As with a spirit's flight ; whose brilliant beams 
 Have shown the potence of her golden dreams 
 To bless the human race ; let arts arise 
 To conquer those that cruelty supplies. 
 Making war's horrid weapons still more true 
 And fatal for the fight ; let strife's red hue 
 Stain earth's green sward no more ; let know- 
 ledge shine 
 With all her sacred power^to make divine 
 The erring souls of men ; in Wisdom's light 
 Let ignorance lose her boasted power to blight 
 
90 IMA GIN A TION. 
 
 And thrall immortal man ; quell hungry self, 
 Bring Charity, whose hand divides the wealth 
 That God hath showered round ; bring fruitful 
 
 Peace, 
 And let her smiling reign make Discord cease, 
 And spread her blessings wide ; give Honour 
 
 place, 
 And Virtue with her modest maiden face. 
 Then let one universal tongue express 
 The thoughts and wants of life, and mankind 
 
 bless ; 
 Let Love beam in all hearts and o'er each clime ; 
 That man may live for man in coming time : 
 Each age in noble deeds more purely shine, 
 Till Love shall prove the soul to be divine ; 
 Then each imagined good shall have its birth, 
 And mortals know immortal joys on earth, 
 Air nature feel the softening hand of love 
 That makes the lion gentle as the dove, 
 
IMAGINATION, 91 
 
 The eagle leave its height, forget its prey, 
 And nestle with the lamb : oqe creed have 
 
 sway — 
 The Love of God ! let milk and honey flow. 
 And earth with heaven's pure light resplendent 
 
 glow, 
 Till night exists no more — one glorious day, 
 The earth's millennium ere earth pass away 
 In final doom ! It comes ; earth trembling feels; 
 The scorching glare of flame ; convulsed she' 
 
 reels ; 
 The heavens ope, the clouds fly back like scrolls 
 Consumed by mighty heat, with pain earth rolls ; 
 And trembling gives her resurrectioned life 
 To Mercy's God ; — 'mid elemental strife 
 The cooling winds are hushed ; the oceans 
 
 steam 
 And render up their dead — the sun's fierce 
 
 beam 
 
$2 IMA GIN A TION. 
 
 Swells heaven's increasing fire ; the melting 
 
 moon 
 And stars fuse in the glowing mass ; and soon 
 The mighty heat the everlasting hills hath rent 
 And hurled them from their base — its rage is 
 
 spent ; 
 Then with one vasty groan the spirit flies ; 
 The soul of Nature to its God doth rise, 
 And mingles with His own. 'Tis then Thy life, 
 Thine essence flows through heaven with 
 
 pleasures rife, 
 Where every thought conceived is blissful gain, 
 That leads of sunlit forms a splendid train : 
 There glorious realms with perfect pleasures ring,' 
 Celestial spirits ever sweetly sing, 
 Immortal power liveth ever sure, 
 Unblemished virtue beameth ever pure, 
 There living waters ever softly play, 
 And never-fading flowers fresh hues array ; 
 
IMAGINATION. 93 
 
 There bliss, angelic bliss, still reigns supreme, 
 And glowing beauties ever radiant seem. 
 There perfect Wisdom speaks with voice divine, 
 And myriad souls in dazzling glory shine. 
 In light, pure light, in God's ne'er ending day, 
 Pure love approaching His who gave its ray, 
 And whose Almighty will all things obey ! 
 
Some of the following Poems were contained in the 
 volume presented to the Rt. Hon. Sir E. B. 
 Lytton, Bart., M.P., &c., when he accepted the 
 Dedication in the year 1857. 
 
ORIGINAL DEDICATION. 
 
 1:0 
 THE RIGHT HONORABLE 
 
 SIR EDWARD BULWER LYTTON, 
 
 BART., M.P., &c., &c., &c., 
 
 the briUtancjj of inhosf gcitms 
 
 toill thrxtto a hnlir arottitft his name in that tempi* 
 
 luhtre Jfamt'» proai flrtgcr 
 
 iMtll, throttghottt all time, biwct the gaze of aimiratioit, 
 
 %\it%t ^oents 
 
 ■tat, tnith ptrmissimt, belitcateb 
 
 is 
 
 1857. 
 
SOME POEMS, 
 
THE PASSION FLOWER. 
 
 A MIND is born with innate power 
 
 Hopeful, sublime, alone. 
 Sown at its birth a Passion flower, 
 
 With it has cherish'd grown. 
 And the mind and the flower grew, "" 
 Both fair and beautiful to human view. 
 
 " Flower, oh flower," the fond youth sigh'd, 
 " Thy blossoms greet the sun ; 
 
 Tho' many die at eventide, 
 To morrow more bloom on : 
 
 While mine are only in the bud, 
 
 Thy passion's flowers ev'ry tendril stud." 
 
102 THE PASSION FLOWER. 
 
 " Youth, fond youth," sighs forth the flower, 
 
 " Thy soul shall climbing rise ; 
 Ambition's sun, tho' clouds may lower, 
 
 Will light thee to its skies ; 
 Thy flowers like mine shall blossom high. 
 Some in life's day to live — its night to die." 
 
 Chmbing the rising mind grew on, 
 
 To its high purpose true ; 
 Climbing the Passion flower was strong, 
 
 And varied in its hue : 
 And the mind and the flower grew, 
 Both fair and beautiful to human view; 
 
^^ 
 
 ^1! 
 
 ^M 
 
 ^ 
 
 1 
 
 M^^^^ 
 
 iuis^^j 
 
 iiiOtea^B 
 
 ^^^S 
 
 BBJ 
 
 SPRING, 
 
 See hoary winter melting into tears, 
 
 As, zephyr led, sweet Spring comes robed in 
 green, 
 Bright sunny smiles her maiden beauty wears, 
 And budding trees like budding hopes are 
 seen. 
 All Nature praises God with varied throat, 
 To hail her first with many a trilling note, 
 The mating birds their love-songs sweetly 
 
 sing, ^ 
 And happy bleats o'er daisied meadows ring ; 
 
I04 SPRING. 
 
 To deck her beauty with their brightest hue, 
 j The flowers, gently-lifting earth, appear, 
 The trees their blossoming snow or crimson 
 wear. 
 And sunlit clouds float high in heaven's blue : 
 Each year, each heart, is blest with Spring's 
 
 sweet time, 
 As Paradise was' blest in Adam's prime. 
 
SUMMER. 
 
 As Summer comes sweet Spring soft glides away, 
 And smiling leaves the year to her warm 
 
 heart, 
 Who willing plays to all a mother's part, 
 To all the infant buds and flowers of May. 
 Sometimes she weeps to see those flowers 
 fade, 
 Now smiles to see her daily rip'ning grain, 
 To hear her song birds sing their heav'n taught 
 strain, 
 Now basks in sunshine or now rests in shade ; 
 
io6 SUMMER. 
 
 Now clothes the callow young to take their 
 
 flight, 
 Gives glorious days to heighten men's delight- - 
 Sweet Summer eves that scarcely know the 
 
 night, 
 Tipping old ocean's waves with silver bright. 
 Yet she must pass, as all the rest have gone — 
 With all the glory that her sunsets shone ! 
 
AUTUMN. 
 
 See the ripe matron Autumn smiling round, 
 The mighty plenty of her spacious lap, 
 The fruit and bounty of Springes virgin sap ; 
 And all the golden grain that hides the ground ! 
 How green the fields when Spring's soft light 
 
 was gone, 
 How brown the plains 'neath Summer's 
 
 rip'ning sun, 
 How rich the earth now Autumn's smiles are 
 
 won. 
 And all this glorious harvest's work is done ! 
 
loS AUTUMN. 
 
 Thank God, oh, man, for sunny days now past, 
 The fruit and wine into thy garners cast, 
 
 For Spring and Summer, Autumn's brilHant 
 
 cheer, 
 For all the blessings of a bounteous year. 
 For passing Autumn's gifts, her great increase 
 That crowns the world with plenty and with 
 peace. 
 
WINTER. 
 
 Old Winter comes, the crisp air holds his breath, 
 Comes from the lands of frost, of ice, and 
 snow, 
 Autumn's last buds and flowers he leaves to 
 death, 
 And ailing youth and age his hands lay low. 
 But though he nips the leaf he keeps the sap : 
 Though the past season's flowers fading, die. 
 He knows next Spring will smiling pass him 
 
 by, 
 
 And bring. new hopes and buds to fill the gap. 
 Oh ! how we love him and his merry games ; 
 
110 WINTER. 
 
 His fires bright, his table's' sumptuous fare, 
 That light of love, the day, the time, inflames, 
 
 And at his Christmas time soothes many a care ; 
 When hearts aglow with good and friend- 
 ship's ray. 
 Steal from Millennium's year a loving day. 
 
SONNET FOR THE NEW YEAR. 
 
 The New Year comes, with still but certain 
 tread, 
 With hand upraised, Time's curtain to with- 
 draw, 
 To show. Hope's offspring there— or lying dead, 
 And in man's brightest jewels many a flaw — 
 He comes, Time's last-born; with a smiling 
 face, 
 As each has come in all the ages gone. 
 Opening his year to all man's giddy race. 
 
 Which each poor fool thinks made for him 
 alone : 
 
112 SONNET FOR THE NEW YEAR. 
 
 He bids all pause — points to the quiet dead 
 
 Who silent lie — laid low, for good or ill. 
 Think well, he says, how each friend's life was 
 sped, 
 Be wise in time ! God helps ye, if ye will : 
 And good men heed not years that come and go, 
 Their souls are God's if no more years they 
 know. 
 
STRANGE STORIES. 
 
 Why should the young, who innocently read, 
 Have morbid fancies brought before their 
 
 eyes, 
 In mystic tales each serial supplies, 
 When sound advice and counsel good they 
 need ? 
 Why do great men strange stories deign to 
 write, 
 Or make mesmeric humbug truth appear ? 
 
 A madman's dream a soul's clairvoyant flight, 
 That spirits round our homes may linger near ; 
 
114 STRANGE STORIES, 
 
 With silly knocks reveal mundane affairs, 
 Ring bells, turn hats, make tables dance to 
 chairs ; 
 Or ghosts appear at solemn midnight hour. 
 Spells or death-wishes arfti with heaven's 
 power — 
 Were witches ducked? do. good men live 
 
 and die 
 That such poor Mediums should their place 
 supply? 
 
SUNDAY IN ENGLAND. 
 
 Oh, blessed day ! when labour sleeping lies, 
 His sons are free from worldly toils and 
 
 care, 
 When millions in thy light breathe purer air, 
 See nature's pleasing ways with gladdened eyes, 
 And feel her voice arrest their sympathies, 
 Then thank their God that they such bless- 
 ings share. 
 The very air seems purer and more rare ; 
 The trees and streams seem softer in their 
 sighs ; 
 
 I 2 
 
n6 SUNDAY IN ENGLAND. 
 
 ^ Ten thousand bells pour forth their solemn call, 
 When Christians give their souls to praise 
 and prayer, 
 And hear from lips devout man's sin and fall, 
 
 And ask God's blessing in this world of care ; 
 Order's good spirit, smiling, blesses all, 
 
 And each man follows that he deems most 
 fair. 
 
THE CHILDREN AT ST. PAUL'S. 
 
 Near thrice two thousand children did I see 
 Within St. Paul's, a sight sublime, I wot, 
 Brought there to join in Heaven's minstrelsy 
 In His own house who said, " Forbid them 
 not." 
 The girls were placed like hills of rising snow, 
 Their colours blending formed a nosegay 
 sweet, 
 Backed by the boys in many a varied row : 
 And, when the prayers began, with action 
 fleet 
 
ii8 THE CHILDREN AT ST. PAUL'S. 
 
 1 
 
 Small aprons rose to pyramids of white, 
 A soul-entrancing, simple, pretty sight ; 
 And then I heard their little voices sing, 
 So sweet and pure they rose with sounding 
 ring— ^ 
 Like songs of birds, they circling reach'd the 
 
 dome. 
 These, listening angels caught and carried 
 home. 
 
1^^ 
 
 
 '^^^M 
 
 1^^ 
 
 ^^^Im 
 
 ^^E^il 
 
 ALONE, ALONE, 
 
 Alone, alone, in any land. — • 
 No kindly word, with friendly hand 
 To grasp our own, or calm our fears,- 
 How cold, how gloomy all appears ! 
 
 Alone, alone, no bee will hive ; 
 'Tis vain to toil, 'tis vain to strive. 
 Alone, alone, no king would reign ; 
 .Without a friend, all hopes are vain. 
 
 Alone,, alone, all earthly joys, " , 
 Life's honours are but phantom toys 
 Ambition's star, tho' bright before. 
 Meteor-like, is seen, no more^ 
 
ALONE, ALONE. 
 
 Alone, alone, e'en God above 
 Created angels for his love ; 
 Adam mid Eden's bliss did grieve, 
 Till God in pity gave him Eve. 
 
 Alone, alone, no work's divine ; 
 Great thoughts might flash but never shine ; 
 The brightest mind would sink in gloom. 
 The fairest flowers vainly bloom. 
 
 The sun shines bpghtly every day ; 
 ,The earth blooms gaily, 'neath its ray. 
 The sun, alone, in vain would shine ; 
 The earth without its light would pine. 
 
 Alone, alone, what can we prize ? 
 Without a friend no man can rise ; 
 'Tis vain to sigh for fame or power — 
 A friend is worth a princely dower. . 
 
THE MURDERER. 
 
 Who is he who with stealthy pace, 
 With frenzied brow and scowHng face, 
 With crouching form and hanging breath, 
 Creepeth to hurry the sleep of death ? 
 
 Who is she, by his hand to die ? — 
 His own sweet wife by holy tie ! 
 An angel in her form and mind, 
 A gem of life and womankind. 
 
 He woo'd her for her wealth and land — 
 He won her heart — he gain'd her hand ; 
 From feigned love neglect doth flow, 
 And love fcFrher he ne'er did know. 
 
122 THE MURDERER. 
 
 He loves one — with a form as fair, 
 
 But rottenness of heart is there — i 
 
 Depravity of soul and mind, 
 
 With love of guilt most demonkind. 
 
 At night — mid festive scenes and wine, 
 When soft lips meet and arms entwine, 
 If woman sue, God's aid we need, 
 She wins our hearts to any deed ! 
 
 'Tis night ! — oh, God, that beauty's smile 
 Should hide a heart of sin and guile ; 
 Or madd'ning fumes our senses hold. 
 Till crime is reckon'd brave and bold. 
 
 And never soul did seem more fair 
 Than hers, that laid its dark thought^ bare — 
 Did serpent tongue use sweeter wile 
 Than her's to hide her purpose vile ? 
 
THE MURDERER. 123 
 
 Bold inher sin, and serpent like, 
 She urged him oft the blow to strike ; 
 But crime a horrid aspect wears, 
 Till frequent tempting drowneth fears I 
 
 "No, not to night — oh, not to night, 
 She loves me " — " Yes ! she loves by right, 
 Were she no more, then mine the bliss 
 To seal our love with bridal kiss." 
 
 " I dare not ! " — "What ! art coward, then — 
 A dastard living among men ? " - • 
 " Hold, taunt me not— I will ! I will ! 
 Stay, ere I go, this goblet fill," 
 
 " Drink ! Drink it off, my true brave man ! 
 Come, once again — nay, love, you can " — 
 He does — and now to reason lost 
 In fiery waves his brain is toss'd ! 
 
124 THE MURDERER. 
 
 " He goes ! " — the fiend exulting cries, 
 " Revenge is mine — this night she dies ! 
 Fool, fool she was to be his wife — 
 She knew I loved him more than life 1 " 
 
 He crossed his threshold like a thief. 
 Guardian angels bring relief. 
 Oh ! save him, ere the flight of time 
 Has stamped him with his blackest crime. 
 
 Conscience wearied quits her throne. 
 As evil counsels urge him on, — 
 He starts to hear the dull stairs creak, 
 And fancies now that voices speak — 
 
 " Come back! come back!" " Go on! go on !" 
 The air around seems full of tongue — 
 What whispers through the still air creep ! 
 He draws his breath more short and deep. 
 
. THE MURDERER. 125 
 
 He casts a hurried timid glance 
 Where gloomy shadows grimly dance, 
 Flickering darkly on the wall, — 
 He trembles at his own footfall. 
 
 A sudden gust destroys the light, 
 
 He curses now in sudden fright, 
 
 His bristling hair's erect with fear, 
 
 Dark shadows make the gloom more drear. 
 
 Deep sullen quiet reigns around — 
 Dull echo mocks each hollow sound, 
 As blood-stain'd shades around him float, 
 And fevered fancies parch his throat. 
 
 The thunder rolls, the night is drear, 
 His guilty soul's opprest with fear — 
 His glaring eyeballs swell and start, 
 His frame feels horror's keenest smart, 
 
126 THE MURDERER. 
 
 He hears the hoarse wind roar without — 
 The big drops fall — the tempest shout — 
 He sees the lightning flash on high — 
 And trembles as the deed draws nigh.. 
 
 He pauses now — now moves apace — - 
 The sweat-drops course his fever'd face-^ 
 His swollen heart beats loud and quick, 
 His breath is more convulsed and thick. 
 
 She sleeps, in holy blessed sleep — 
 Ent'ring he crawls, as reptiles creep, 
 He draws the curtain — bares her heart. 
 The cold air makes her shuddering start. ' j 
 
 Backward he shrinks, assailed by fear — - 
 She smiles— she dreams he holds her dear, 
 But wakes pot — tho' her sweet lips move, 
 Breathing his naniQ.with fervent love. 
 
THE MURDERER. 127 
 
 Speak, again, for thine own dear weal ; 
 More fondly ere he lifts the steel ! 
 Alas ! she sleeps — it glistens high^ 
 He strikes^she wakes with piercing cry ! 
 
 The blow, tho' mortal, slightly errs ; 
 Transfixed he stands — nor breathes nor stirs. 
 Convulsed she rises — grasps his hand^— 
 While horror makes him passive stand. 
 
 She locks hirh in her last embrace, 
 Murder'd and murderer face to face — 
 . Now conscience startled, claims her throne, 
 His heart is bleeding like her own. 
 
 Her angel-miiid forgiveness prays 
 For him who blighted all her days ; 
 An angel's look glides o'er her brow, 
 Her soul's with God in Heaven now ! - . 
 
t28 THE MURDERER, 
 
 A maniac on her corse he falls, 
 With frantic cries for aid he calls ; 
 Upbraids her for her cold embrace, 
 Wildly kissing her marble face. 
 
 The callous wretch who urged the deed, 
 Follows her gloating eyes to feed — 
 He turns ; ah, fiend ! thy victim view — 
 , The steel shall pierce thy foul heart too. 
 
 One look of horror and despair ; 
 
 One wild wild shriek pierced thro' the air. 
 
 One fatal blow— a corse she fell. 
 
 Her soul a tenant fit for hell. 
 
 The tempest rages fierce without, 
 He rushes forth with madman's shout. 
 Defying thunder, hail and rain, 
 While fearful eddies whirl his brain. 
 
THE MURDERER. 129 
 
 On ! on ! he flies — to summit high, 
 No hand to stay, the deed is nigh ; 
 He leaps aloft — then sinks in gloom, 
 And echo sounds his earthly doom ! 
 
GUARDIAN ANGEL, BE OUR 
 GUIDE. 
 
 Guardian angel ! be our guide, 
 Lead our souls to deeds of worth ; 
 Give us all a manly, pride, 
 
 Make us live to bless the earth. 
 
 And when ambition's voice inspires. 
 Would win us to its potent sway, 
 
 To brilliant thoughts give high desires, 
 Let our noblest feelings play. 
 
 When revenge wild passion stirreth. 
 Whisper thy soft words of love. 
 
 Check the dark thought, ere it erreth, 
 From our souls all hate remove. 
 
GUARDIAN ANGEL, 131 
 
 When the heart with wild love burneth, 
 
 Show the soul its coming guilt ; 
 Imaged sorrow often turneth, 
 
 Saveth blood from being spilt. 
 
 When temptation's forms assail us, 
 Syren beauties float around ; * ' , 
 
 Unmask their charms ere we bewail us, 
 Bleeding conscience feels her wound. 
 
 When envy's gall would make us wreak, . 
 
 Vengeance :on a rival's fame ; 
 Whisper, for his good deeds seek ; 
 
 Give the praise his works can claim. 
 
 When satire's words would pierce the heart, 
 
 Power places near our own ; 
 With gentler counsels turn the dart, 
 
 Heedless else we should have thrown 
 
132 GUARDIAN ANGEL. 
 
 When hypocrisy would mask us, 
 
 To profess against rbehef ; 
 Let thy soft voice gently task us ; 
 
 Candour come to our relief 
 
 If a suffering soul appeal, 
 
 Ask us meekly for our aid ; 
 Oh! prompt the words, the acts which heal, 
 
 Till a brother's want is saved. 
 
 When grasping bigotry would hold us, 
 
 To deny a brother's right ; 
 Whisper earth is made to fold us, 
 
 Each one in his soul's own light. 
 
 Whatever guilt our souls may dream. 
 Banish it with better thought ; 
 
 Ever light us with thy beam. 
 Let us see thee as we ought 
 
GUARDIAN ANGEL. 133 
 
 Ev'ry good thought prosper in us, 
 
 Ev'ry noble great idea ; 
 Virtue's, honor's, power win us. 
 
 From earth or heaven nought to fear. 
 
 Guardian angel ! never leave us. 
 Cheer us with thy brilliant light^ 
 
 Let the world's clouds ne'er deceive us, 
 Ever keep our souls aright. 
 
THE MAGIC OF HOME TO MY 
 SOUL IS APPEALING. 
 
 The magic of home to my soul is appealing, 
 I feel its dear charms wherever I roam. 
 
 Some shadow beloved thro' the quiet is stealing 
 To whisper the soft words of love and of 
 home. 
 
 No distance, no time can e'er banish the feeling, 
 No beauty or powers o'ercome the sweet 
 strain. 
 
 That the sorrow of parting for ever is healing, 
 My soul in its musings sings over again. 
 
THE MAGIC OF HOME. ^35 
 
 I move in Its circle and own its sweet power, 
 And feel' o'er my spirit Its beautiful calm ; 
 
 'TIs the suri that Illumines each cloud ere It 
 lower — 
 And keeps like an angel my soul by Its charm. 
 
WHEN DISCORD'S HOUNDS ARE 
 LOOSED UPON THE WORLD. 
 
 When Discord's hounds are loosed upon the 
 world, 
 With fury snapping at the robes of Peace, 
 She weeps to see her bright hopes wildly hurl'd 
 In madness down, to see her cheerful powers 
 cease. 
 
 Then o'er earth's ruin sings with plaintive voice, 
 Oh, man ! ))vithout me all thy hopes are vain. 
 
 Live to lament thy sad destructive choice. 
 To mourn and toil an age ere I can smile 
 again. 
 
WHEN DISCORD'S HOUNDS ARE LOOSED. 137 
 
 For all thy struggles will be bloodstain'd, endr 
 less ; 
 Commerce alarm'd will flee each bleeding 
 shore, 
 Thy children's children will my shade caress, 
 And strive to heal the heart the fangs of 
 discord tore. 
 
LUXURY. 
 
 To throw oneself upon the grass, 
 To hear the busy, buzzing fly. 
 
 And watch the moving objects pass 
 With listless half-closed dreamy eye, 
 
 Or nature's lights and shades to see, 
 
 And music hear — is luxury. 
 
 Beneath the shade, to see the sun. 
 And hear the passing hum of bee ; 
 
 The busy world's loud ways to shun, 
 To hear the rolling waves of sea ; 
 
 Or gentle zephyrs softly sigh 
 
 'Mid fragrant flowers— is luxury. 
 
LUXURY. 139 
 
 To watch barques gliding o'er the deep, 
 Their white sails full before the wind, 
 
 Pass, like shadows seen in sleep, 
 On, nor leave more trace behind ; 
 
 Till sunset's glories flush the sky. 
 
 And gild the waves — is luxury. 
 
 To: see white clouds o'er heaven flying, 
 To hear the joyful trill of birds, 
 
 With the maid who loves us sighing 
 Responsive to our loving words ; 
 
 To feel the soul then blissful die 
 
 To worldly Carcs-^is luxury* 
 
TO A CHILD. 
 
 Come, little Trot, and let me see, 
 Thy dark blue eyes of sparkling glee, 
 And crimson pouting lips that vie 
 With fragrant rose close blushing by ; 
 Come brightly beaming happy smile, 
 To cheer my heart a little while 
 With thoughts as pure and happy now 
 As those I had when young as thou. 
 
 "Now, come, papa!" With sweet command, 
 Thou bid'st me hold thy little hand, 
 And run with thee some point to gain. 
 No sooner there, 'tis all in vain — ■■ 
 
TO A CHILD. 141 
 
 Thy changeful fancy will not stay, 
 But we must off another way ; 
 On to the porch, with blossoms hung ; 
 Who can resist thy pretty tongue ? 
 
 Now we are off — thy laughing words 
 
 I love beyond the song of birds ; 
 
 Bright smiles bedeck thy glowing face, 
 
 Thy tiny feet keep up the race, 
 
 Thy flaxen tresses wildly flowing, 
 
 O'er ruddy cheeks with health's-bloom glowing ; 
 
 Happy with thee, my darling child, 
 
 Life's sun has always beaming smil'd. 
 
CHILDREN, HAPPY CHILDREN. 
 
 Children, happy children, 
 By the clear brook playing, 
 
 Mid sun and flowers. 
 
 Glide happy hours, 
 Life's purest flow pourtraying. 
 
 Children, happy children, 
 With water bubbles playing, 
 With hearts as light, 
 With hopes as bright, 
 Life's lightest hours pourtraying. 
 
 Children, happy children. 
 
 With the wild flowers playing, 
 
CHILDREN, HAPPY CHILDREN. i43 
 
 With souls as fair, 
 Without a care, 
 Life's sweetest time pourtraying. 
 
 Children, happy children, 
 
 The summer breezes playing. 
 
 Your cheeks illume 
 
 With rosy bloom 
 Life's happiest smiles pourtraying. 
 
 Children, happy children, 
 Birds o'er the water playing. 
 
 With wings as light. 
 
 Your cares take flight. 
 Life's innocence pourtraying. 
 
THE APPEAL OF POVERTY. 
 
 Oh God ! what is it I have done 
 To suffer hunger, thirst and pain, 
 
 To have no friend on earth — not one 
 To save these pangs and throes again ? 
 
 My fond and loving mother died 
 When most a mother's love is seen, 
 
 Would thou hadst laid me by her side, 
 Beneath the churchyard's bed of green. 
 
 I should have died so happy then — 
 
 No pangs my youthful heart had known ; 
 
 Why should I live to want again, 
 And suffer all these pains alone ? 
 
THE APPEAL OF POVERTY. 145 
 
 The water rolling dark and slow, 
 
 Silent and coldly flowing on, 
 Seems not so cold as streams that flow 
 
 In many worldly hearts of stone. 
 
 One sudden plunge— its silent wave 
 Would ope its bosom soft to me, 
 
 And I should rest in its quiet grave, 
 Dead to earth's pain and misery. 
 
 My mother's words, " On God rely," 
 Are stealing softly o'er my soul. 
 
 By seeking death, I Thee defy ; 
 
 Oh God, such gloomy thoughts control ! 
 
SYMPATHY. 
 
 There is a chord in ev'ry mind, 
 Strung to feel the touch of beauty 
 
 Though sunk in guilt, some angel kind, 
 May gently moving bring to duty. 
 
 'Tis heaven's best gift and owes its life, 
 To Him who watches o'er the earth, 
 
 Its power sublime o'ercomes the strife 
 Of passions in their wildest birth. 
 
 Oh, seek to play upon its string, 
 To touch it with some gentle word. 
 
 It vibrates if an angel sing. 
 When cold advice would ne'er be heard. 
 
SONG. OF THE SKELETONS, 
 
 Come where the fire damps flitting fly, 
 
 Men of bones, men of bones ; 
 King Dekth on his throne of shanks sits high, 
 
 Men of bones, men of bones. 
 At the hour 'When corses quit the tomb, 
 Skeletons come to the cave of gloom ; 
 Where the oozing water stains the wall, 
 The worm in its darkness loves to crawl. 
 The roots of the trees that blossom above, 
 Wreathing fantastic, form death's grim grove. 
 Come skeleton band and bony throng. 
 Rattle a chorus to every song. 
 
148 SONG OF THE SKELETONS. 
 
 Hark ! hark ! to the sextons' mirth, 
 Their axes break the soil of earth ; 
 For old and young, for rich and poor, 
 J oin us now as in days of yore. 
 Ropes are round the bodies running. 
 Merry to night shall be your funning. 
 Men of bones, men of bones. 
 
 Marrowless, fleshless, nought want we. 
 
 Men of bones, men of bones. 
 
 In death we all are equal and free. 
 
 Men of bones, men of bones. 
 * 
 
 Fate is spinning and snapping her thread. 
 Each turn of her wheel leaves thousands dead ; 
 For she and grim' death with purpose fell, 
 Toil on till the last man's earthly knell ; 
 Till heaven rings with the trump of doom, 
 Immortal spirits spring from the tomb. 
 
SONG OF THE SKELETONS. 149 
 
 Then rejoice, rejoice, ye bony throng, 
 Death and his harvest speed along. 
 
 Hark ! hark ! to the sextons' mirth. 
 Their axes break the soil of earth ; 
 For old and young, for rich and poor, 
 Join us now as in days of yore. 
 Ropes are round the bodies running, 
 Merry to night shall be your funning, 
 Men of bones, men of bones. 
 
SUNSHINE. 
 
 The dewy mists are melting slow. 
 The east is bright with golden glow, 
 
 And clouds and fogs must fade ; 
 Iris bends a varied bow. 
 The distant village smiles below, 
 
 In sunny light and shade. 
 
 Oh, God ! it is a brilliant sight. 
 To see earth's glories greet thy light, 
 Trees, and birds, and flowers ; 
 
SUNSHINE.- ii,\ 
 
 How gracious thou, with all thy might ! 
 To bless man — all this shines so bright, 
 And all earth's golden hours. 
 
 The birds are singing on the bough, 
 The whistling peasant guides the plough, 
 
 And cheerful crows the cock ; 
 The breeze is coolly gliding now, 
 The corn falls fast before the mow',, 
 
 And some is in the shock. 
 
 And some in ricks, in golden pride, 
 In distance gives a brighter side 
 
 Against the shining sun ; 
 While fast around the' sunbeams glide. 
 To light the prospect spreading wide — 
 
 A glorious day's begun. 
 
IS2 SUNSHINE. 
 
 Light shines upon the distant hill, 
 
 Swift runs the stream, slow turns the mill, 
 
 And happy hums the bee ; 
 The landscape all around is still. 
 As silent as our God's great will 
 
 Of human destiny. 
 
 Many a stately row of trees 
 Greets the gently breathing breeze 
 
 That, noiseless, glides along ; 
 The robin coming winter sees. 
 And sings to man his prophecies, 
 
 And cheers him with his song. 
 
 Between the trees a brilliant beam, 
 
 Makes the distance smiling seem, 
 
 And shines upon a lake ; 
 
SUNSHINE.. 153 
 
 Or lights upon a winding stream, 
 Where birds rejoice within its gleam 
 Where lights and shadows break. 
 
 God's landscapes all around are seen, 
 The hedge-rows show their varied green, 
 
 And bright enamelled leaves ; 
 My heart feels glory's brilliant sheen, 
 Oh, God ! on such a day, I ween 
 
 Sorrow scarcely grieves. 
 
 White shines the distant valley's toweirs, 
 A turret's chimes proclaim the hours 
 
 Are moving on the day ; 
 The roadside cots are bright with flowers. 
 The air's refresh'd with fragrant showers, 
 
 The zephyrs waft away. 
 
154 SUNSiJINE. 
 
 How sweet is yonder shady nook, 
 How bright the gently rippling brook, 
 
 Whose waters murmur on. 
 All nature's leaves are one great book, 
 Wherein her sons may safely look 
 
 And meditate upon. 
 
 The poplar hugs its loving leaves. 
 The willow o'er the streamlet grieves. 
 
 Or stands with frightened crown ; 
 The ivy round the stout oak weaves. 
 The varied elm the mead relieves, 
 
 The firs point up and down. 
 
 The berried yew-trees grace the church ; 
 The stately cedar, cypress, birch. 
 The larches graceful fall ; 
 
SUNS/f/NK 155 
 
 The clustering apple trees that lurch, 
 
 The woods wherein the choirs perch ; 
 
 The peach against the wall. 
 
 Slow flies the downy butterfly, 
 
 A covey whirrs with swift wings by. 
 
 For dogs and guns are near ; 
 A farm-yard's busy scenes are nigh, 
 A milching cow stands near the sty, 
 
 A song falls on the ear. 
 
 And now a passing friendly jest, 
 Shows that the heart is well at rest, 
 
 And feels the beauties round ; 
 Oh, nature's influence is the best. 
 It fills the soul with holy zest, 
 
 Love greets it with a bound. 
 
156 SUNSHINE. 
 
 The ripen'd beans stand in the sun, 
 
 And mourn their spring day's blossom gone, 
 
 In garb of sable hue ; 
 An ivied arch the light's upon, 
 Amid a ruin stands alone. 
 
 Time's heartless hand to rue. 
 
 The tinkling bells of passing team, 
 The jetting clouds of rising steam 
 
 Show trains upon their way ; 
 An angler plies within the stream, 
 The victims flash within the gleam. 
 
 Against the sun's bright ray. 
 
 The meads with flocks are dotted o'er, 
 And homesteads snug with trees before 
 Peep out upon the road ; 
 
SUNSHINE. 
 
 157 
 
 A bridge unites the sever'd shore, 
 Uniting, as some friends restore. 
 Hearts where wrath has flow'd. 
 
 And all around is shining bright. 
 Some trees against the wind are white. 
 
 The lanes run winding on ; 
 Sorrow from the heart takes flight, 
 All nature feels a soft delight. 
 
 And sings to God its song. 
 
 Oh, God ! thy works are all divine, 
 Suns, oceans, mountains, stars that shine. 
 
 The changing day and night ; 
 Such glories must the soul refine, 
 Thy soul be felt by man's and mine 
 
 On such a day of light. 
 
FORGET ME NOT. 
 
 Forget me not ! for love I steal thee 
 From this lone yet smiling spot ; 
 
 To one I love, go thou reveal me, 
 Teach her to forget me not. 
 
 With smiling beauty she accepts thee. 
 Places thee upon her breast ; 
 
 Whisper, flower, if she but love me, 
 Thiere would I for ever rest. 
 
 Oh win for me her heart, sweet flower, 
 Like thine own, without a blot ; 
 
 Oh plead for me until the hour, 
 She sighs, love forget me not. 
 
THE APPARITION. 
 
 'Tis twelve at night, and I alone 
 Am sitting in my room, 
 
 I hear no sound above my breath, 
 
 All, all, is still, as still as death. 
 As silent as the -sullen tomb : 
 
 Black night sits dn her throne. 
 
 I am awake, wide, wide awake, 
 Not a single sense asleep, 
 
i6o THE APPARITION. 
 
 I hear my breath, I feel my hand, 
 I clearly see, I firmly stand, 
 
 My blood begins to chill and creep 
 My startled soul to quake. 
 
 . ^. 
 Whence comes that light, soft gliding nigh ? 
 
 The grate hath lost its fire ; 
 My lamp is out, each inmate sleeps, 
 No moonlight thro' the window creeps, 
 
 Or gilds the distant village spire. 
 No star is in the sky. 
 
 It is a saintly, brilliant light 
 In the corridor again ; 
 
 And soft as is the halo's shine 
 
 Around the head of God divine, 
 And all the holy angel train ; 
 
 It gains upon my sight. 
 
THE APPARITION. i6i 
 
 On, on, it comes within the gloom. 
 
 Shining upon my fear ; 
 Still, still, deep silence reigns around, 
 Oh ! I would give the world for sound 
 
 To strike upon mine anxious ear, 
 For a child within my room. 
 
 Within its rays a form divine 
 
 Floats on a brilliant sea 
 Of rolling light — an angel bright, 
 " My love, my love, I die this night, 
 
 My heart in life was pledged to thee, 
 In death my soul is thine." 
 
 I try to speak, it waves its hand. 
 My stifled voice arrests my breath, 
 
'62 THE APPARITION. 
 
 Above my fear, in wild amaze, 
 
 Mine eyes are fixed with steady gaze ; 
 
 Watch this bright light of after death, 
 I like a statue stand. 
 
 It threw on me — how tenderly ! 
 
 A last fond look of love : 
 It crossed its hands upon its breast. 
 Where oft mine head did peaceful rest 
 
 Then pointing one to heaven above, 
 Passed to eternity. 
 
 I'd slept, and falling to the floor 
 
 Truly I saw a light. 
 And heard a gentle, stealing tread, 
 Coming to lead me to my bed, 
 
 To chide my wooing of the night ; 
 My love was at my door. 
 
ODE TO CAUTION. 
 
 Awake, Britannia ! sleep no more, 
 Thy foes are on the wind, 
 
 4- 
 
 Its breath might bear them to thy shore ; 
 
 To-morrow's sun might find 
 A hundred thousand bayonets shine ; 
 A hundred thousand foemen thine : 
 Thy children arm'd for all divine, 
 
 For country, home, and kind. 
 
 Ambition's rapid strides are near, 
 Its wheels are on the flood, 
 
 No timid cry, no female tear 
 Arrests its steps of blood. 
 
1^4 AN ODE TO CAUTION. 
 
 It mounts the gory hill with pride ; 
 It bursts the peaceful portals wide ; 
 It floats upon a gory tide 
 That Hell pronounces good. 
 
 Shudd'ring Caution bids thee wake, 
 
 To arms ! to arms ! prepare, 
 Thy home, thy liberty's at stake. 
 
 And trouble's in the air. 
 She looks across a simple sea. 
 She bids thee wake to keep thee free. 
 The Isle and home of Liberty, 
 Her refuge in despair. 
 
 Guard well thy ports, restore thy towers. 
 
 With sentinel and gun, 
 And shew at home thy mighty powers, 
 
 And let thy signals run 
 
AN ODE TO CAUTION. 165 
 
 Along the quick electric wire, 
 From port to port, like angel fire ; 
 Nor let thine eye of Caution tire ; 
 By foresight much is won. 
 
 The lion roused will win the fight. 
 
 And strong within its lair 
 Will oft' its hunter put to flight. 
 
 But falls within the snare. 
 Thine arms of strength are far from thee, 
 On distant lands, on distant sea ; 
 Draw thy strong sinews near to thee. 
 
 Then let thy foes beware ! 
 
FAME : 
 
 A VISION. 
 
 Once in that sleep, when mind's awake, 
 
 A trumpet loud and shrill 
 The tenements of soul did shake, 
 
 It came from fame's proud hill ; 
 A mind had shone in brilliant light, 
 And fame its censors put to flight. 
 
 Her temple's height the toiling man 
 
 Had striven hard to gain ; 
 But he was blanched with age, and wan, 
 
 And stricken down with pain. 
 
FAME. 167 
 
 Before he won the mighty name 
 Proclaim'd to men by trump of fame. 
 
 He saw the niche she gave to him, 
 
 Shining in glory's light ; 
 He felt his brain a moment swim 
 
 With transport's wild delight ; 
 And then he mourn'd the name she gave, 
 Would only light him to the grave. 
 
 With plaintive voice he cried to man — 
 
 Behold my youthful dream ! 
 Though 1 have won the race I ran, 
 
 I sink in Lethe's stream ; • 
 My soul was lit with light of truth. 
 But you disdained it in my youth. 
 
 And though, in age, I prize the name. 
 What deeds I might have done, 
 
i68 FAME. 
 
 If you had honor' d me with fame 
 
 In youth when it was won ; 
 My purpose, then, was bold and high, 
 But now I win, alas ! I die ! 
 
 THE END. 
 
 BRADBURY, AGNEW, & CO., PRINTERS, WHITEFRIAES, LONDON.