Now, by womanhood's degree, and by wifehood's verity, 1 Toll slowly. Twice he wrung her hands in twain; but In this hour if thou hast need of thy noble Back he reined the steed--back, back! but red-roan steed, Thou hast also need of me. she trailed along his track With a frantic clasp and strain! By this golden ring ye see on this lifted Evermore the foemen pour through the hand pardie, Toll slowly. If, this hour, on castle-wall can be room for steed from stall, Shall be also room for me. crash of window and door,— And the shouts of Leigh of Leigh, and the shrieks of "Kill!" and "Flee!" Strike up clear amid the roar. "So the sweet saints with me be" (did she Thrice he wrung her hands in twain,--but Oh, he sprang up in the selle, and he She clung wild and she clung mute,-with laughed out bitter well, Toll slowly. her shuddering lips half shut, “Wouldst thou ride among the leaves, as Her head fallen as half in swound,—hair we used on other eves, To hear chime a vesper bell?" She clang closer to his knee-"Ay, beneath the cypress tree!— Toll slowly. and knee swept on the ground, She clung wild to stirrup and foot. Back he reined his steed back-thrown on Mock me not; for otherwhere than along Back the iron hoofs did grind on the battle "What, and would you it should fall, as a Straight as if the Holy name had upproverb, before all, breathed her like a flame, Toll slowly.. Toll slowly. That a bride may keep your side while She upsprang, she rose upright,-in his through castlegate you ride, Yet eschew the castle-wall?" selle she sat in sight; By her love she overcame. Ho! the breach yawns into ruin, and roars And her head was on his breast, where she They have caught out at the rein which Sir Did star-wheels and angel-wings, with their Guy threw loose—in vain,— Toll slowly. For the horse in stark despair, with his front hoofs poised in air, On the last verge rears amain. holy winnowings, Keep beside you all the way? Though in passion ye would dash, with a blind and heavy crash, Toll slowly. Now he hangs, he rocks between-and his Up against the thick-bossed shield of God's nostrils curdle in,— Toll slowly. And he shivers head and hoof-and the flakes of foam fall off; And his face grows fierce and thin ! And a look of human woe from his staring eyes did go, Toll slowly. And a sharp cry uttered he, in a foretold agony Of the headlong death below. And "Ring, ring,-thou passing bell," still she cried, "i' the old chapelle !"– Toll slowly. Then back-toppling, crushing back, a dead weight flung out to wrack, Horse and riders overfell. Oh, the little birds sang east, and the little birds sang west, Toll slowly. judgment in the field, Though your heart and brain were rash, Now, your will is all unwilled-now your pulses are all stilled,Toll slowly. Now, ye lie as meek and mild (whereso laid) as Maud the child, Whose small grave was lately filled. Beating heart and burning brow, ye are very patient now, Toll slowly. And the children might be bold to pluck the kingcups from your mold Ere a month had let them grow. And you let the goldfinch sing in the alder near in spring, Toll slowly. Let her build her nest and sit all the three weeks out on it, Murmuring not at anything. And I read this ancient Rhyme in the In your patience ye are strong; cold and churchyard, while the chime Slowly tolled for one at rest. The abeles moved in the sun, and the river smooth did run, Toll slowly. heat ye take not wrong: Toll slowly. When the trumpet of the angel blows eternity's evangel, Time will seem to you not long. And the ancient Rhyme rang strange, with Oh, the little birds sang east, and the little Where was graved,-HERE UNDEFILED, LI- Oh, the little birds sang east, and the little did see, THESE, as they change, Almighty Father, Yet so delightful mix'd, with such kind these art, Are but the varied God. The rolling Such beauty and beneficence combined; Shade, unperceived, so softening into year Is full of Thee. Forth in the pleasing spring shade; And all so forming an harmonious whole, Thy Beauty walks, thy Tenderness and That, as they still succeed, they ravish Wide flush the fields; the softening air is But wandering oft, with brute unconscious With light and heat refulgent. Then thy The fair profusion that o'erspreads the Sun spring; Shoots full perfection through the swell- Flings from the sun direct the flaming day; ing year; And oft thy Voice in dreadful thunder Feeds every creature; hurls the tempest speaks, forth; And oft at dawn, deep noon, or falling And, as on earth this grateful change revolves, eve, By brooks and groves, in hollow-whisper- With transport touches all the springs of ing gales. Thy Bounty shines in autumn unconfined, And spreads a common feast for all that lives. life. Nature, attend! join, every living soul Beneath the spacious temple of the sky, In adoration join; and, ardent, raise In winter awful Thou! with clouds and One general song! To Him, ye vocal Around Thee thrown, tempest o'er tempest Breathe soft, whose Spirit in your freshness roll'd, breathes : Majestic darkness! On the whirlwind's Oh, talk of Him in solitary glooms; Who shake the astonish'd world, lift high Ye woodlands all, awake: a boundless to heaven song The impetuous song, and say from whom Burst from the groves; and when the rest His praise, ye brooks, attune, ye trembling Expiring, lays the warbling world asleep, Sweetest of birds! sweet Philomela, charm The listening shades, and teach the night rills; And let me catch it as I muse along. Ye headlong torrents, rapid and profound; Ye softer floods, that lead the humid maze Along the vale; and thou, majestic main, His praise. Ye chief, for whom the whole creation smiles, At once the head, the heart, and tongue of all, Crown the great hymn! in swarming cities vast, Assembled men to the deep organ join Or bids you roar, or bids your roarings The long-resounding voice, oft breaking fall. clear, Soft roll your incense, herbs, and fruits, At solemn pauses, through the swelling and flowers, bass; In mingled clouds to Him, whose sun And, as each mingling flame increases exalts, each, Whose breath perfumes you, and whose In one united ardor rise to heaven. As home he goes beneath the joyous The prompting seraph, and the poet's Ye that keep watch in heaven, as earth Still sing the God of Seasons, as they asleep roll. Unconscious lies, effuse your mildest For me, when I forget the darling theme, Ye valleys, raise; for the Great Shepherd Since God is ever present, ever felt, And His unsuffering kingdom yet will And where He vital breathes, there must |