Imatges de pàgina
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"And, by my word! the bonny bird
In danger shall not tarry;

So, though the waves are raging white,
I'll row you o'er the ferry."

By this the storm grew loud apace,
The water-wraith was shrieking;
And, in the scowl of heaven, each face
Grew dark as they were speaking.
But still as wilder blew the wind,
And as the night grew drearer,
Adown the glen rode armed men,

Their trampling sounded nearer.
"O haste thee, haste!" the lady cries,
"Though tempests round us gather,
I'll meet the raging of the skies,
But not an angry father."

The boat has left a stormy land,
A stormy sea before her-

When, oh! too strong for human hand,
The tempest gathered o'er her.

And still they row'd, amidst the roar
Of waters fast prevailing:

Lord Ullin reach'd that fatal shore

His wrath was changed to wailing→→

For sore dismay'd, through storm and shade,
His child he did discover!

One lovely arm was stretched for aid,

And one was round her lover.

"Come back! come back!" he cried in grief,

"Across this stormy water;

And I'll forgive your Highland chief

My daughter!-oh! my daughter!"

'Twas vain!-the loud waves lash'd the shore, Return or aid preventing :

The waters wild went o'er his child

And he was left lamenting.

LAST DAYS OF HERCULANEUM.-Atherstone.

There was a man,

A Roman soldier, for some daring deed

That trespassed on the laws, in dungeon low
Chained down. His was a noble spirit, rough,
But generous, and brave, and kind.

He had a son, 'twas a rosy boy,

A little faithful copy of his sire

In face and gesture. In her pangs she died
That gave him birth; and ever since the child
Had been his father's solace and his care.

Every sport

The father shared and heightened. But at length
The rigorous law had grasped him, and condemned
To fetters and to darkness.

The captive's lot

He felt in all its bitterness :-the walls

Of his deep dungeon answered many a sigh

And heart-heaved groan. His tale was known, and touched
His jailor with compassion ;-and the boy,
Thenceforth a frequent visitor, beguiled
His father's lingering hours, and brought a balm
With his loved presence that in every wound
Dropt healing. But in this terrific hour

He was a poisoned arrow in the breast

Where he had been a cure.

With earliest morn,

Of that first day of darkness and amaze
He came. The iron door was closed-for them
Never to open more! The day, the night,
Dragged slowly by; nor did they know the fate
Impending o'er the city. Well they heard
The pent-up thunders in the earth beneath,
And felt its giddy rocking; and the air

Grew hot at length, and thick; but in his straw
The boy was sleeping: and the father hoped
The earthquake might pass by; nor would he wake
From his sound rest the unfearing child, nor tell
The dangers of their state. On his low couch

The fettered soldier sunk-and with deep awe
Listened the fearful sounds -with upturned eye
To the great gods he breathed a prayer ;—then strove
To calm himself, and lose in sleep a while

His useless terrors. But he could not sleep :-
His body burned with feverish heat;—his chains
Clanked loud although he moved not: deep in earth
Groaned unimaginable thunders :-sounds,
Fearful and ominous, arose and died

Like the sad moanings of November's wind
In the blank midnight. Deepest horror chilled
His blood that burned before;-cold clammy sweats
Came o'er him :-then anon a fiery thrill

Shot through his veins. Now on his couch he shrunk
And shivered as in fear :-now upright leaped,

As though he heard the battle trumpet sound,
And longed to cope with death.

He slept at last

A troubled dreamy sleep.
Never to waken more!
But terrible his agony.

Well-had he slept
His hours are few,

Soon the storm

Burst forth the lightnings glanced :—the air
Shook with the thunders. They awoke ;-they sprung
Amazed upon their feet. The dungeon glowed

A moment as in sunshine-and was dark :

Again a flood of white flame fills the cell

Dying away upon the dazzled eye

In darkening, quivering tints, as stunning sound

Dies throbbing, ringing in the ear.

Silence,

And blackest darkness. With intensest awe

The soldier's frame was filled; and many a thought

Of strange foreboding hurried through his mind,

As underneath he felt the fevered earth

Jarring and lifting—and the massive walls

Heard harshly grate and strain :-yet knew he not,

While evils undefined and yet to come

Glanced through his thoughts, what deep and cureless wound

Fate had already g'ven. Where, man of woe!

Where, wretched father! is thy boy? Thou callest

His name in vain :-he cannot answer thee.

Loudly the father called upon his child :No voice replied. Trembling and anxiously

He searched their couch of straw with headlong haste
Trod round his stinted limits, and, low bent,

Groped darkling on the earth :-no child was there.
Again he called :-again at farthest stretch

Of his accursed fetters-till the blood

Seemed bursting from his ears, and from his eyes
Fire flashed-he strained with arm extended far
And fingers widely spread, greedy to touch
Though but his idol's garment. Useless toil!
Yet still renewed :-still round and round he goes,
And strains and snatches-and with dreadful cries
Calls on his boy. Mad frenzy fires him now;
He plants against the wall his feet;-his chain
Grasps ;-tugs with giant strength to force away
The deep-driven staple ;-yells and shrieks with rage.
And, like a desert lion in the snare

Raging to break his toils-to and fro bounds.
But see! the ground is opening :—a blue light
Mounts, gently waving-noiseless :-thin and cold
It seems, and like a rainbow tint, not flame;
But by its lustre, on the earth outstretched,
Behold the lifeless child!-his dress singed,
And over his serene face a dark line
Points out the lightning's track.

The father saw

And all his fury fled :—a dead calm fell

That instant on him :-speechless, fixed he stood,
And with a look that never wandered, gazed

Intensely on the corse.

Those laughing eyes

Were not yet closed-and round those pouting lips
The wonted smile returned.

Silent and pale

The father stands :-no tear is in his eye :-
The thunders bellow-but he hears them not :-
The ground lifts like a sea :-he knows it not :-
The strong walls grind and gape :-the vaulted roof
Takes shapes like bubble tossing in the wind :-
See! he looks up and smiles ;-for death to him

Is happiness.

Yet could one last embrace

Be given, 'twere still a sweeter thing to die.

It will be given. Look! how the rolling ground,
At every swell, nearer and still more near

Moves towards the father's outstretched arm his boy :-
Once he has touched his garment ;-how his eye
Lightens with love-and hope-and anxious fears!
Ha! see! he has him now!-he clasps him round-
Kisses his face ;-puts back the curling locks
That shaded his fine brow :-looks in his eyes—
Grasps in his own those little dimpled hands-
Then folds him to his breast, as he was wont
To lie when sleeping-and resigned awaits
Undreaded death.

And pangless.

And death came soon and swift,

The huge pile sunk down at once

Into the opening earth. Walls-arches-roof-
And deep foundation stones-all mingling fell!

THE END.

Edinburgh: Printed by W. & R. Chambers,
19, Waterloo Place.

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