And the sounds of joy and grief From her people wildly rose, While the sun looked shining bright, Died away. Now joy, old England, raise ! For the tidings of thy might, By the festal cities' blaze, While the wine-cup shines in light ; Let us think of them that sleep, Elsinore ! Once so faithful and so true, With the gallant good Riou : While the billow mournful rolls, Of the brave ! THOMAS MOORE. 1779-1852. Born in Dublin, and studied at Trinity College. Completed his University education in 1799, and left Dublin for England to enter himself as a member of the Middle Temple, and to study for the English bar. Literature, however, was more attractive to him than law, and he devoted himself to the former. He obtained the countenance and support of some of the most distinguished men of the day, including Lord Lansdowne, the Duke of Bedford, and Lord John Russell, and won for himself almost unbounded popularity as a poet. Through the influence of the last named nobleman, a pension of £300 a year was bestowed upon him. Moore lived a life of great brilliance and fashion, moving as a welcome visitor in the most aristocratic circles. He died in 1852, and was buried in Bromham churchyard, Wiltshire. Moore's chief works are :--Lalla Rookh and Irish Melodies. THE POWER OF GOD. Thou art, O God, the life and light Of all this wondrous world we see; Are but reflections caught from Thee ! Among the opening clouds of even, Through golden vistas into heaven, O'ershadows all the earth and skies, Is sparkling with unnumbered eyes, When youthful Spring around us breathes, Thy Spirit warms her fragrant sigh, And every flower the Summer wreathes, Is born beneath that kindling eye: Where'er we turn, Thy glories shine, And all things fair and bright are Thine. O THOU WHO DRY'ST THE MOURNER'S TEAR! O Thou who dry'st the mourner's tear ! How dark this world would be, We could not fly to Thee. When winter comes are flown ; Must weep those tears alone. Which, like the plants that throw Breathes sweetness out of woe. When joy no longer soothes or cheers, And e'en the hope that threw Is dimmed and vanished too,- Did not Thy wing of love Our peace-branch from above ? With more than rapture's ray; We never saw by day. THE LAST ROSE OF SUMMER. 'Tis the last rose of summer Left blooming alone; Are faded and gone; No rosebud is nigh, To give sigh for sigh. To pine on the stem ; Go sleep thou with them. Thy leaves o'er the bed, Lie scentless and dead. When friendships decay, The gems drop away! And fond ones are flown, This bleak world alone ? THE POWER OF MUSIC. WHEN through life unblest we rove, Losing all that made life dear, Should some notes, we used to love In days of boyhood, meet our ear, Oh, how welcome breathes the strain ! Wakening thoughts that long have slept; Kindling former smiles again In faded eyes that long have wept. Like the gale that sighs along Beds of Oriental flowers, That once we heard in happier hours. Though the flowers have sunk in death; So, when pleasure's dream is gone, Its memory lives in music's breath. Music! oh, how faint, how weak, Language fades before thy spell ! Why should feeling ever speak When thou canst breathe her soul so well? Friendship's balmy words may feign; Love's are e'en more false than they; Oh 'tis only music's strain Can sweetly soothe, and not betray! REMEMBER ME. Go where glory waits thee, Oh, still remember me. Oh, then remember me. Sweeter far may Oh, then remember me. Oh, then remember me. be; |