Thus rudely versed in allegoric lore, The hill of knowledge I essayed to trace; That hill with secret springs, and nooks untrod, Low murmuring, lay; and starting from the rocks same, As neighb'ring fountains image, each the whole. Give him all kindness: I had rather have Shakespeare. LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP. BY WILLIAM LEGGETT. THE birds, when winter shades the sky, Where laughing isles in sunshine lie, And thus the friends that flutter near, And fly before the storm. But when from winter's howling plains Each other warbler's past, The little snow-bird still remains, And chirrups midst the blast. Love, like that bird, when friendship's throng With fortune's sun depart, Still lingers with its cheerful song, And nestles on the heart. Unequal fortune Made him my debtor for some courtesies, Which bind the good more firmly. Byron. LIFE'S SUNNY SPOTS. BY JOANNA BAILLIE. I WILL collect some rare, some cheerful friends, The rest dull breathing sleep. Thus, it is true, from the sad years of life We sometimes do short hours, yea minutes strike, Keen, blissful, bright, never to be forgotten; Which, through the dreary gloom of time o'er past, Shine like fair sunny spots on a wild waste. VALUE OF FRIENDSHIP. BY SOUTHERN. FRIENDSHIP is power and riches all to me; L'AMITIE EST L'AMOUR SANS LES AILES. BY BYRON. WHY should my anxious breast repine, Because my youth is fled? Days of delight may still be mine; Affection is not dead. In tracing back the years of youth, 'Friendship is Love without his wings!" Through few, but deeply chequered years, Friendship! that thought is all thine own, Where yonder yew-trees lightly wave Unheeded heaves a simple grave, Round this unconscious school-boys stray, From yonder studious mansion rings; But here whene'er my footsteps move, My silent tears too plainly prove, "Friendship is Love without his wings!" Oh Love! before thy glowing shrine My hopes, my dreams, my heart was thine, For thine are pinions like the wind, Seat of my youth! thy distant spire Thy grove of elmes, thy verdant hill, Each flower a double fragrance flings; Friendship is Love without his wings!" |