I. INVOCATION. As the tired voyager on stormy seas Of dim sweet woods that hear no billows roar ; So from the depth of days, when earth yet wore Her solemn beauty and primeval dew, I call you, gracious Forms! Oh! come, restore Awhile that holy freshness, and renew Life's morning dreams. Come with the voice, the lyre, Daughters of Judah! with the timbrel rise! Ye of the dark prophetic eastern eyes, Imperial in their visionary fire; Oh! steep my soul in that old glorious time, When God's own whisper shook the cedars of your clime! II. INVOCATION CONTINUED. And come, ye faithful! round Messiah seen, As in calm clouds of pearly stillness bright, Showers weave with sunshine, and transpierce their slight Ethereal cradle.-From your heart subdued All haughty dreams of power had wing'd their flight, And left high place for martyr fortitude, True faith, long suffering love.-Come to me, come! Like the clear pavement of his heavenly home; III. THE SONG OF MIRIAM. A song for Israel's God!-Spear, crest, and helm, When Miriam's voice o'er that sepulchral realm With her lit eye, and long hair floating free, E'en as instinct with the tempestuous glee Of the dark waters, tossing o'er the slain. A song for God's own victory!-O, thy lays, IV. RUTH. The plume-like swaying of the auburn corn, Fall'n in its weariness. Thy father land Smiles far away! yet to the sense of home, That finest, purest, which can recognize Home in affection's glance, for ever true Beats thy calm heart; and if thy gentle eyes Gleam tremulous through tears, 'tis not to rue Those words, immortal in their deep Love's tone, Thy people and thy God shall be mine own!" V. THE VIGIL OF RIZPAH. "And Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven; and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night."-2 Sam. xxi. 10. Who watches on the mountain with the dead, A seer awaiting the deep spirit's might? Once proudly graceful, heavy beats the rain; So, night by night, her vigil hath she kept Th' unconquerable Angel, mightiest Love! |