A Century of Emblems Part 9

The roads were rock, the sky was flame, The seething mob filled strand and quay, Where came an ancient curious dame Three leagues afoot the launch to see.

Now as she stooped amid the crowd, Stooped to remove a galling stone, She heard a shouting rash and loud; She raised her head--the launch was gone.

O dame! as thou art such are they Who after years of care and cost, The burning hope of many a day By one ign.o.ble stoop have lost.

THE LOST FISH.

"Ah!" cries the boy, "was never seen A fish like that which broke my rod, Such weight, such breadth of scaly sheen, A sucking whale he might have been, A grampus or Newfoundland cod."

Thus in our aims we all are boys, And Fortune's present grace abuse; For, ever of all earthly toys, Love, honours, triumph, gain, or joys, The richest is the one we lose.

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STRIKING THE TENT.

This quaint round bower, this sheltering canvas cave, In which we ate and slept, and prayed, and planned, Falls in a moment, when to yonder slave Expectant of the sign my hand I wave, All limp and shapeless on the desert sand.

Depart in peace, O wanderer of Useit!

Rejoicing in thy strength the mountain tread, Yet never may'st thou this memento slight; Erect to-day for labour and delight, To-morrow p.r.o.ne among the dusty dead.

THE TURKISH BRIDGE.

Whene'er we saw the arches gleam, We shouted trending down the ridge, "Better by far to ford the stream, Than trust the doubtful Turkish bridge."

Such, are false promises believed; Such, confidence and love betrayed; Such those who having once deceived A warning offer, not an aid.

THE CROCODILE.

This monstrous Effet on the solid ground Right on and on can work his easy way, But in his cramping plates of armour bound, Slowly and sorely wheels his length around, And so eludes him every nimble prey.

So have we known through prejudice and use, A mind that crawls in one pernicious groove, A dreary tunnel with the narrowest views, A c.u.mbrous mind inflexibly obtuse, Which reason cannot turn nor feeling move.

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THE MOUNTAINS OF EL TIH.

The pilgrim on the bleached El Tih Stares at the rocky wall awhile, Nor through the shadeless glare can see, Rift, pathway, or defile.

Yet, just one burning corner past, Behold the glittering cliffs dispart; He finds himself ascending fast Into the mountain's heart.

When troubles thus a barrier raise, Oh, yield not to despair or wrath, Press for the turn; by His own ways Great G.o.d will show the path.

DAMASCUS IN THE EVENING.

The dream of an enchanted home Set in an emerald frame, Peach bloom, and topaz walls, and dome, And minarets of flame; So the great city flashed on us, Descending Antiliba.n.u.s.

From lower slopes a change we see; The towers, like white-stoled maids, All bleached to purest ivory, Arise from purple shades: So the great city smiled on us, Descending Antiliba.n.u.s.

But soon within her gates we found The grace and glory gone: Darkness for splendour all around, And clay for precious stone.

Was this the joy that beamed on us, Descending Antiliba.n.u.s?

Again a change--a door we pa.s.s-- O magical surprise!

Fount, lamps, divans, arcaded gla.s.s, A traveller's paradise!

Emblems of life and death with us We brought from Antiliba.n.u.s.

THE TWO GOATS.

Two goats met on an Alpine ridge, Sharp, sheer, and horrible to see; One crouched and formed a living bridge, And so they pa.s.sed unscathed and free.

That both might prosper one must bend, Oh, learn the lesson, reader mine!

So shalt thou compa.s.s mercy's end, And so conform to love divine.

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THE ARAB WELL.

Ah me! it is a cruel spell For Truth as for mankind, If to the depth of yonder well The G.o.ddess be consigned.