Hesperus Part 12

SONG--LOVE WHILE YOU MAY.

Day by day, with startling fleetness, Life speeds away; Love, alone, can glean its sweetness, Love while you may.

While the soul is strong and fearless, While the eye is bright and tearless, Ere the heart is chilled and cheerless-- Love while you may.

Life may pa.s.s, but love, undying, Dreads no decay; Even from the grave replying, "Love while you may."

Love's the fruit, as life's the flower; Love is heaven's rarest dower; Love gives love its quick'ning power-- Love while you may.

{92}

THE SNOWS.

UPPER OTTAWA.

Over the snows, Buoyantly goes The lumberers' bark canoe; Lightly they sweep, Wilder each leap, Bending the white caps through.

Away! away!

With the speed of a startled deer, While the steersman true, And his laughing crew, Sing of their wild career:

"Mariners glide Far o'er the tide, In s.h.i.+ps that are staunch and strong; Safely as they, Speed we away, Waking the woods with song."

Away! away!

With the flight of a startled deer, While the laughing crew Of the swift canoe Sing of the raftsmen's cheer:

"Through forest and brake, O'er rapid and lake, We're sport for the sun and rain; Free as the child Of the Arab wild, Hardened to toil and pain.

{93}

Away! away!

With the speed of a startled deer, While our buoyant flight, And the rapid's might, Heighten our swift career."

Over the snows Buoyantly goes The lumberers' bark canoe; Lightly they sweep, Wilder each leap, Tearing the white caps through.

Away! away!

With the speed of a startled deer; There's a fearless crew In each light canoe, To sing of the raftsmen's cheer.

{94}

THE RAPID.

ST. LAWRENCE.

All peacefully gliding, The waters dividing, The indolent batteau moved slowly along, The rowers, light-hearted, From sorrow long parted, Beguiled the dull moments with laughter and song: "Hurrah for the Rapid! that merrily, merrily Gambols and leaps on its tortuous way; Soon we will enter it, cheerily, cheerily, Pleased with its freshness, and wet with its spray."

More swiftly careering, The wild Rapid nearing, They dash down the stream like a terrified steed; The surges delight them, No terrors affright them, Their voices keep pace with their quickening speed: "Hurrah for the Rapid! that merrily, merrily s.h.i.+vers its arrows against us in play; Now we have entered it, cheerily, cheerily, Our spirits as light as its feathery spray."

Fast downward they're das.h.i.+ng, Each fearless eye flas.h.i.+ng, Though danger awaits them on every side; Yon rock--see it frowning!

They strike--they are drowning!

But downward they speed with the merciless tide;

{95}

No voice cheers the Rapid, that angrily, angrily s.h.i.+vers their bark in its maddening play; Gaily they entered it--heedlessly recklessly, Mingling their lives with its treacherous spray!

{96}

LOST AND FOUND.

In the mildest, greenest grove Blest by sprite or fairy, Where the melting echoes rove, Voices sweet and airy; Where the streams Drink the beams Of the Sun, As they run Riverward Through the sward, A shepherd went astray-- E'en G.o.ds have lost their way.

Every bird had sought its nest, And each flower-spirit Dreamed of that delicious rest Mortals ne'er inherit; Through the trees Swept the breeze, Bringing airs Unawares Through the grove, Until love Came down upon his heart, Refusing to depart.

Hungrily he quaffed the strain, Sweeter still, and clearer, Drenched with music's mellow rain, Nearer--nearer--dearer!

{97}

Chains of sound Gently bound The lost Youth, Till, in sooth, He stood there A prisoner, Raised between earth and heaven By love's divinest leaven.

Was there ever such a face?

Was it not a vision?

Had he climbed the starry s.p.a.ce, To the fields Elysian?

Through the glade The milk-maid With her pail, To the vale Pa.s.sed along, Breathing song Through all his ravished sense, To gladden his suspense.

"Love is swift as hawk or hind, Chamois-like in fleetness, None are lost that love can find,"

Sang the maid, with sweetness.

"True, in sooth,"

Thought the Youth, "Strong, as swift, Love can lift

{98}

Mountain weights To the gates Of the celestial skies, Where all else fades and dies."

Lightly flew the sunny days, Joy and gladness sending; Life becomes a song of praise When true hearts are blending.

Guileless truth Won the Youth, Kept him there, A prisoner; While dear Love From above Poured down enduring dreams, In calm supernal gleams.

{99}

YOUNG AGAIN.

Young again! Young again!