All is over! fleet career,Dash of greyhound slipping thongs,Flight of falcon, bound of deer,Mad hoof-thunder in our rear,Cold air rushing up our lungs,Din of many tongues. Once again, one struggle good,One vain effort;–he must dwellNear the shifted post, that stoodWhere the splinters of the wood,Lying in the torn tracks, tellHow he struck and fell. Crest […]

Our hopes are wild imaginings,Our schemes are airy castles,Yet these, on earth, are lords and kings,And we their slaves and vassals;Your dream, forsooth, of buoyant youth,Most ready to deceive is;But age will own the bitter truth,“Ars longa, vita brevis.” The hill of life with eager feetWe climbed in merry morning,But on the downward track we […]

“The hills like giants at a hunting lay Chin upon hand, to see the game at bay.” —Browning. You’ll take my tale with a little salt,But it needs none, nevertheless,I was foil’d completely, fairly at fault,Dishearten’d, too, I confess.At the splitters’ tent I had seen the trackOf horse-hoofs fresh on the sward,And though Darby Lynch […]

Aye, snows are rife in December,And sheaves are in August yet,And you would have me remember,And I would rather forget;In the bloom of the May-day weather,In the blight of October chill,We were dreamers of old together,–As of old, are you dreaming still? For nothing on earth is sadderThan the dream that cheated the grasp,The flower […]

An Unpublished Dramatic Lyric. Scene I“Discontent” LAURENCE RABY. Laurence:I said to young Allan M’Ilveray,Beside the swift swirls of the North,When, in lilac shot through with a silver ray,We haul’d the strong salmon fish forth–Said only, “He gave us some troubleTo land him, and what does he weigh?Our friend has caught one that weighs double,The game […]

“Aye, squire,” said Stevens, “they back him at evens;The race is all over, bar shouting, they say;The Clown ought to beat her; Dick Neville is sweeterThan ever–he swears he can win all the way. “A gentleman rider–well, I’m an outsider,But if he’s a gent who the mischief’s a jock?You swells mostly blunder, Dick rides for […]

“A stone upon her heart and head, But no name written on that stone; Sweet neighbours whisper low instead, This sinner was a loving one.” —Mrs. Browning. ‘Tis a nameless stone that stands at your head–The gusts in the gloomy gorges whirlBrown leaves and red till they cover your bed–Now I trust that your sleep […]

A burning glass of burnished brass,The calm sea caught the noontide rays,And sunny slopes of golden grassAnd wastes of weed-flower seem to blaze.Beyond the shining silver-greys,Beyond the shades of denser bloom,The sky-line girt with glowing hazeThe farthest, faintest forest gloom,And the everlasting hills that loom. We heard the hound beneath the mound,We scared the swamp […]

As related by Sergeant Leigh on the nighthe got his captaincy at the Restoration. I’ll tell you a story; but pass the “jack”,And let us make merry to-night, my men.Aye, those were the days when my beard was black–I like to remember them now and then–Then Miles was living, and Cuthbert there,On his lip was […]

“Turn out, boys!”–“What’s up with our super. to-night?The man’s mad–Two hours to daybreak I’d swear–Stark mad–why, there isn’t a glimmer of light.”“Take Bolingbroke, Alec, give Jack the young mare;Look sharp. A large vessel lies jamm’d on the reef,And many on board still, and some wash’d on shore.Ride straight with the news–they may send some reliefFrom […]

“Where shall we go for our garlands gladAt the falling of the year,When the burnt-up banks are yellow and sad,When the boughs are yellow and sere?Where are the old ones that once we had,And when are the new ones near?What shall we do for our garlands gladAt the falling of the year?” “Child! can I […]

The sword slew one in deadly strife;One perish’d by the bowl;The third lies self-slain by the knife;For three the bells may toll–I loved her better than my life,And better than my soul. Aye, father! hast thou come at last?‘Tis somewhat late to pray;Life’s crimson tides are ebbing fast,They drain my soul away;Mine eyes with film […]

(“Ashtaroth”) We severed in autumn early,Ere the earth was torn by the plough;The wheat and the oats and the barleyAre ripe for the harvest now.We sunder’d one misty morning,Ere the hills were dimm’d by the rain,Through the flowers those hills adorning–Thou comest not back again. My heart is heavy and wearyWith the weight of a […]

The Lord shall slay or the Lord shall save!He is righteous whether He save or slay–Brother, give thanks for the gifts He gave,Though the gifts He gave He hath taken away.Shall we strive for that which is nothing? Nay.Shall we hate each other for that which fled?She is but a marvel of modelled clay,And the […]

With short, sharp, violent lights made vivid,To southward far as the sight can roam,Only the swirl of the surges livid,The seas that climb and the surfs that comb.Only the crag and the cliff to nor’ward,And the rocks receding, and reefs flung forward,And waifs wreck’d seaward and wasted shorewardOn shallows sheeted with flaming foam. A grim, […]

From Dawn to Dusk. Dawn On skies still and starlitWhite lustres take hold,And grey flushes scarlet,And red flashes gold.And sun-glories coverThe rose shed above her,Like lover and loverThey flame and unfold. * * * * * Still bloom in the gardenGreen grass-plot, fresh lawn,Though pasture lands hardenAnd drought fissures yawn.While leaves not a few fall,Let […]

The ocean heaves around us stillWith long and measured swell,The autumn gales our canvas fill,Our ship rides smooth and well.The broad Atlantic’s bed of foamStill breaks against our prow;I shed no tears at quitting home,Nor will I shed them now! Against the bulwarks on the poopI lean, and watch the sunBehind the red horizon stoop–His […]

Mark:So, Maurice, you sail to-morrow, you say?And you may or may not return?Be sociable, man! for once in a way,Unless you’re too old to learn.The shadows are cool by the water sideWhere the willows grow by the pond,And the yellow laburnum’s drooping prideSheds a golden gleam beyond.For the blended tints of the summer flowers,For the […]

Hold hard, Ned! Lift me down once more, and lay me in the shade.Old man, you’ve had your work cut out to guideBoth horses, and to hold me in the saddle when I sway’d,All through the hot, slow, sleepy, silent ride.The dawn at “Moorabinda” was a mist rack dull and dense,The sunrise was a sullen, […]

No. I I’ve something of the bull-dog in my breed,The spaniel is developed somewhat less;While life is in me I can fight and bleed,But never the chastising hand caress.You say the stroke was well intended. “True.”You mention “It was meant to do me good.”“That may be.” “You deserve it.” “Granted, too.”“Then take it kindly.” “No–I […]