And stopped at once amid their maddest plunge! Who made you glorious as the gates of heaven Ye living flowers that skirt the eternal frost! 55 60 65 Utter forth "God," and fill the hills with praise! Once more, hoar mount! with thy sky-pointing peaks, 70 Oft from whose feet the avalanche, unheard, Rise, like a cloud of incense, from the earth! 75 80 EXERCISE XXXI. Battle of Waterloo.-BYRON. 1. There was a sound of revelry by night; Soft eyes looked love to eyes which spake again, And all went merry as a marriage-bell ; But hush! hark! a deep sound strikes like a rising knell 2. Did ye not hear it? -No: 't was but the wind, Or the car rattling o'er the stony street: On with the dance! Let joy be unconfined; No sleep till morn, when Youth and Pleasure meet To chase the glowing hours with flying feet;· But hark! that heavy sound breaks in once more, As if the clouds its echo would repeat; And nearer, clearer, deadlier than before! Arm! arm! it is- it is the cannon's opening roar. 3. Within a windowed niche of that high hall, And caught its tone with Death's prophetic ear; And when they smiled because he deemed it near, His heart more truly knew that peal too well, Which stretched his father on a bloody bier, And roused the vengeance blood alone could quell: He rushed into the field, and, foremost fighting, fell. 4. Ah! then and there was hurrying to and fro, And gathering tears, and tremblings of distress, And cheeks all pale, which but an hour ago Blushed at the praise of their own loveliness; And there were sudden partings, such as press The life from out young hearts, and choking sighs Which ne'er might be repeated: who could guess If ever more should meet those mutual eyes, Since upon night so sweet such awful morn could rise ? 5. And there was mounting in hot haste: the steed, The mustering squadron, and the clattering car, Roused up the soldier, ere the morning star; 6. And wild and high the "Cameron's gathering" rose ! With the fierce native daring which instils The stirring memory of a thousand years; And Evan's, Donald's fame rings in each clansman's ears! 7. And Ardennes waves above them her green leaves, Dewy with nature's tear-drops, as they pass, Which now beneath them, but above shall grow In its next verdure, when the fiery mass Of living valor, rolling on the foe, And burning with high hope, shall moulder cold and low. 8. Last noon beheld them full of lusty life; Last eve, in Beauty's circle proudly gay: The midnight brought the signal sound of strife; Battle's magnificently-stern array! -the day, The thunder-clouds close o'er it, which when rent, Which her own clay shall cover - heaped and pent, Rider and horse — friend, foe — in one red burial blent! EXERCISE XXXII. Reflections at Midnight.-DR. Young. The bell strikes One. We take no note of time But from its loss. To give it, then, a tongue, Is wise in man. As if an angel spoke, I feel the solemn sound. If heard aright, It is the knell of my departed hours: Where are they? With the years beyond the flood. It is the signal that demands despatch: How much is to be done! My hopes and fears 10 Start up alarmed, and o'er life's narrow verge And can eternity belong to me, Poor pensioner on the bounties of an hour? How poor, how rich, how abject, how august, How complicate, how wonderful, is man! How passing wonder He who made him such! 15 20 25 Thought wanders up and down, surprised, aghast, 80 Triumphantly distressed! what joy, what dread! What can preserve my life, or what destroy? 'Tis past conjecture; all things rise in proof: 35 40 45 |