Short Poems

Whoever hath washed his hands of living
Utters his mind without misgiving.

In straits which no escape afford
The hand takes hold of the edge of the sword.

She, who could neither rest nor sleep
Ere round her she had scattered hyacinths and roses,
Now with the roses of her face death-strewn reposes,
And o'er her tomb wild brambles creep.

Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing,
Only a signal shown and a distant voice in the darkness;
So on the ocean of life we pass and speak one another,
Only a look and a voice; then darkness again and a silence.

Motto for the title-page
Tentanda via est; quâ me quoque possim
Tollere humo, victorque viram volitare per ora.
Virg. [Georg. III 9 10]

On vent'rous wing in quest of praise I go,
And leave the gazing multitude below.

V

Autumn is dark on the mountains; grey mist rests on the hills. The whirlwind is heard on the heath. Dark rolls the river thro' the narrow plain. A tree stands alone on the hill, and marks the grave of Connal. The leaves whirl round with the wind, and strew the grave of the dead. At times are seen here the ghosts of the deceased, when the musing hunter alone stalks slowly over the heath. Appear in thy armour of light, thou ghost of mighty Connal! Shine, near thy tomb, Crimora! like a moon-beam from a cloud.

South of the house, north of the house
young men plant the fields,
singing field songs as they work,
tunes that ring out loud.
How different from the young " knights-errant "
of the neighboring town:
daubing rouge upon their faces,
falcons perched on arms!

Bride loved old words, and found her pleasure marred
On the first night, her expectations jarred,
And thirty inches short of being a yard.

25. And there came great mourning upon Israel, in every place where they were;
26. And the rulers and elders groaned, the virgins and young men were made feeble, and the beauty of the women
27. Was changed. Every bridegroom took up lamentation, she that sat in the marriage chamber was in heaviness.
28. And the land was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob was clothed with shame.

8. Her temple is become as a man that was glori-
9. Ous: her vessels of glory are carried away into captivity, her infants are slain in her streets, her young men
10. With the sword of the enemy. What nation hath not inherited her palaces, and gotten possession of her spoils?
11. Her adorning is all taken away; instead of a free woman she is become
12. A bond woman: and, behold, our holy things and our beauty and our glory are laid waste, and the Gentiles have
13. Profaned them. Wherefore should we live any longer?

Mutely the mole toils on;
The worm in silk cocoon
Stealthy as spider spins,
As glides the moon.
But listen where envy peers beneath half-closed lid;
Where peeping vanity lurks; where pride lies hid;
And peace beyond telling share with the light-stilled eye,
When only the image of the loved one's nigh.