Page images
PDF
EPUB

requisite measure of time and strength is proportioned; and thus, having worked while it is called day, they at length, "rest from their labors, and their works follow them." Let us then, whatever our hands find to do, do it with all our might, recollecting that now is the proper and accepted time.

[ocr errors]

XCVIII.-THE NOSE AND THE EYES.

FROM COWper.

WILLIAM COWPER, an English poet, was born in 1731. His poetry exhibits a mixture of playful humor, and of the somber melancholy which darkened the latter part of his life. In beauty and delicacy of thought, and in his high tone of moral and religious sentiment, he has no superior among English poets. He died in 1800.

1. BETWEEN Nose and Eyes a strange contest arose;
The spectacles set them, unhappily, wrong;
The point in dispute was, as all the world knows,
To which the said spectacles ought to belong.

2. So Tongue was the lawyer, and *argued the cause,
With a great deal of skill, and a wig full of learning;
While chief baron Ear sat to balance the laws,

So famed for his talent in nicely *discerning.

3. "In behalf of the Nose, it will quickly appear,

And your lordship," he said, "will undoubtedly find
That the nose has the spectacles always to wear,
Which amounts to possession, time out of mind."

4. Then, holding the spectacles up to the court,

"Your lordship observes, they are made with a straddle
As wide as the ridge of the Nose is; in short,
Designed to sit close to it, just like a saddle.

5. "Again, would your lordship a moment suppose,

('Tis a case that has happened, and may happen again,)
That the visage or countenance had not a Nose,
Pray, who would, or who could wear spectacles then?

6. "On the whole it appears, and my targument shows,
With a reasoning the court will never condemn,
That the spectacles, plainly, were made for the Nose,
And the Nose was, as plainly, intended for them."
7. Then shifting his side, (as a lawyer knows how,)
He pleaded again in behalf of the Eyes:

But what were his arguments, few people know,
For the court did not think them equally wise.

8. So his lordship decreed, with a grave, solemn tone,
Decisive and clear, without one if or but,
That whenever the Nose put his spectacles on,
By day-light or candle-light,-Eyes should be shut.

XCIX.-GRATEFUL OLD AGE.

FROM THE GERMAN OF GESNER.

1. How beautifully the dawn shines through the hazelbush, and the wild roses blossom at the window! How joyfully the swallow sings on the rafter, under my roof, and the little lark in the high air! Every thing is cheerful, and every plant is revived in the dew. I also feel revived. My staff shall guide my tottering steps to the threshold of my cottage, and there will I sit down facing the rising sun, and look abroad on the green meadows. How beautiful is all around me here! All that I hear are voices of joy and thanks. The birds in the air, and the shepherds on the hill, sing their delight, and the flocks from the grassy slopes and out of the variegated valleys, bellow out their joy.

2. How long, how long, shall I yet be a witness of divine goodness? Ninety times, have I already seen the change of the seasons; and when I look back from the present hour to the time of my birth,- -a beautiful and extended prospect which at last is lost in pure air,-how swells my heart! The emotion which my tongue can not utter, is it not rapture? And are not these tears, tears of joy? And yet, are not both too feeble an expression of thanks? Ah! flow, ye tears! flow down these cheeks.

3. When I look back, it seems as if I had lived only through a long spring, my sorrowful hours being only short storms, which refreshed the fields and enlivened the plants. Hurtful *pestilences have never diminished our flocks; never has a *mischance happened to our trees, nor a lingering misfortune rested on this cottage. I looked out *enraptured into futurity, when my children played smiling in my arms, or when my hand guided their tottering footsteps. With tears of joy I

looked out into the future, when I saw these young sprouts spring up. "I will protect them from mischance," said I; "I will watch over their growth, and Heaven will bless my endeavors. They will grow up and bear excellent fruit, and become trees, which shall shelter my declining age with their spreading branches."

4. So I spake, and pressed them to my heart, and now, they have grown up, full of blessings, covering my weary years with their refreshing shade. So, the apple-trees, the peartrees, and the tall nut-trees, planted by me while yet a boy, around my cottage, have grown up, carrying their widelyextended branches high into the air; and my little home nestles in their covering shade. This, this was my most +vehement grief, O Myrta, when thou didst expire on my agitated breast, within my arms. Spring has already covered thy grave, twelve times, with flowers. But the day approaches, a joyful day, when my bones shall be laid with thine. Perhaps, the coming night conducts it hither. O, I see with delight, how my gray beard flows down over my breast. Yes, play with the white hair on my breast, thou little *zephyr, who thoverest about me! It is as worthy of thy caresses, as the golden hair of joyful youth, or the brown curls on the neck of the blooming maiden.

5. This day shall be to me a day of joy! I will assemble my children around me here, even down to the little *stammering grandchild, and will offer thanksgiving to God; the altar shall be here before my cottage. I will *garland my bald head, and my trembling hand shall take the lyre, and then will we, I and my children, sing songs of praise. Then, will I *strew flowers over my table, and with joyful discourses partake of the bounty of the Most High.

6. Thus spake Palamon, and rose trembling upon his staff, and having called his children together, held a glad *festival of devout and joyous thanksgiving to the Deity.

C. THE THREE WARNINGS.

FROM MRS. THRALE.

1. THE tree of deepest root is found
Least willing still to quit the ground;
'Twas therefore said by ancient *sages,
That love of life increased with years
So much, that in our latter stages,
When pains grow sharp, and sickness rages,
The greatest love of life appears.

This great affection to believe,
Which all confess, but few perceive,
If old assertions can't prevail,
Be pleased to hear a modern tale.

2. When sports went round, and all were gay, On neighbor Dodson's wedding-day; Death called aside the jocund groom

With him into another room;

And looking grave, "You must," says he,
"Quit your sweet bride, and come with me."
"With you! and quit my Susan's side?
With you!" the hapless bridegroom cried:
"Young as I am, 'tis monstrous hard!
Besides, in truth, I'm not prepared."

3. What more he urged, I have not heard;
His reasons could not well be stronger:
So Death the poor delinquent spared,
And left to live a little longer.

Yet calling up a serious look,

His hour-glass trembled while he spoke;
"Neighbor," he said, “farewell! no more
Shall Death disturb your mirthful hour;
And further, to avoid all blame

Of cruelty upon my name,
To give you time for preparation,
And fit you for your future station,
Three several warnings you shall have,
Before you're summoned to the grave:
Willing for once I'll quit my prey,
And grant a kind +reprieve;

In hopes you'll have no more to say,

But, when I call again this way,

Well pleased the world will leave."
To these conditions both consented,
And parted perfectly contented.

4. What next the hero of our tale befell,

How long he lived, how wisely, and how well,

It boots not that the muse should tell;

He plowed, he sowed, he bought, he sold,
Nor once perceived his growing old,

Nor thought of Death as near;

His friends not false, his wife no shrew,
Many his gains, his children few,
He passed his hours in peace.

But, while he viewed his wealth increase,
While thus along life's dusty road,

The beaten track, content he trod,
Old Time, whose haste no mortal spares,
Uncalled, unheeded, unawares,

Brought on his eightieth year.

5. And now, one night, in musing mood
As all alone he sate,

The unwelcome messenger of Fate
Once more before him stood.

Half-killed with wonder and surprise,
"So soon returned!" old Dodson cries.
"So soon d'ye call it?" Death replies:
"Surely, my friend, you're but in jest;
Since I was here before,

'Tis six and thirty years at least,

And you are now fourscore."

"So much the worse!" the clown rejoined;
"To spare the agèd would be kind:

Besides, you promised me three warnings,
Which I have looked for nights and mornings!"

6. "I know," cries Death, "that at the best,
I seldom am a welcome guest;
But don't be captious, friend; at least,
I little thought that you'd be able
To stump about your farm and stable;
Your years have run to a great length,
Yet still you seem to have your strength."
7. "Hold!" says the farmer, "not so fast!
I have been lame, these four years past."

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »