"Redeem mine hours-the space is briefWhile in my glass the sand-grains shiver, And measureless thy joy or grief, When TIME and thou shalt part for ever!" CAMPBELL. THE RAINBOW. TRIUMPHAL arch, that fill'st the sky I ask not proud philosophy To teach me what thou art. Still seem as to my childhood's sight Betwixt the earth and heaven. Can all that optics teach, unfold When science from creation's face What lovely visions yield their place And yet, fair bow, no fabling dreams, Have told why first thy robe of beams When o'er the green undeluged earth Heaven's covenant thou didst shine, How came the world's grey fathers forth To watch thy sacred sign! And when its yellow lustre smiled Methinks thy jubilee to keep, Nor ever shall the Muse's eye, The earth to thee its incense yields, How glorious is thy girdle cast Or mirror'd in the ocean vast, As fresh in yon horizon dark, For, faithful to its sacred page, THE NATIVITY. WHEN Jordan hush'd his waters still, And silence slept on Zion hill; When Bethl'hem's shepherds through the night Watch'd o'er their flocks by starry light: Hark! from the midnight hills around, Wild murm'ring o'er the raptur'd soul. Then swift to every startled eye, On wheels of light, on wings of flame, High heav'n with songs of triumph rung O Zion! lift thy raptur'd eye, The Prince of Salem comes to reign. See, Mercy from her golden urn Pours a rich stream to them that mourn! He comes to cheer the trembling heart, O Zion! lift thy raptur'd eye, EXTRACT FROM THE LAST MAN. * "THIS spirit shall return to Him Go, Sun, while Mercy holds me up To drink this last and bitter cup Of grief that man shall taste Go, tell the night that hides thy face, PROFESSOR WILSON.* MAGDALENE'S HYMN. FROM "THE CITY OF THE PLAGUE,” THE air of death breathes through our souls, The face that in the morning sun I see the old man in his grave I see the child's bright tresses wave A very beautiful specimen of the serious verse of this distinguished writer is given with the Memoir of the Author of The Sabbath, at page 30th of this volume. |