In yon strait path a thousand May well be stopp'd by three; And keep the bridge with me ?” Then outspake Spurius Lartius A Ramnian proud was he“Lo, I will stand at thy right hand, And keep the bridge with thee.” Of Titian blood was he- And keep the bridge with thee." “Horatius," quoth the Consul, “ As thou say’st, so let it be;" And straight against that great array Forth went the dauntless three. Spared neither land nor gold, In the brave days of old. (2.) THE FALL OF THE BRIDGE. BUT meanwhile axe and lever Have manfully been plied ; Above the boiling tide. Down dropt the breeze, the sails dropt down, 'Twas sad as sad could be ; And we did speak only to break The silence of the sea ! All in a hot and copper sky The bloody sun, at noon, No bigger than the moon. Day after day, day after day, We stuck—nor breath nor motion ; As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean. Water, water, everywhere, And all the boards did shrink; Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink. The very deep did rot !-0 Christ! That ever this should be ! Upon the slimy sea. About, about, in reel and rout The death-fires danced at night; The water, like a witch's oils, Burnt green, and blue, and white. LIBERTY. YE clouds! that far above me float and pause, Whose pathless march no mortal may control ! Ye ocean-waves ! that, wheresoe'er ye roll, Yield homage only to eternal laws ! Ye woods ! that listen to the night-bird's singing, Midway the smooth and perilous slope reclined, Save when your own imperious branches, swinging, Have made a solemn music of the wind ! How oft, pursuing fancies holy, Inspired beyond the guess of folly, By each rude shape and wild unconquerable sound! O ye loud waves! and O ye forests high ! And O ye clouds that far above me soar'd! Thou rising sun ! thou blue rejoicing sky ! Yea, everything that is and will be free! Bear witness for me, wheresoe'er ye be, With what deep worship I have still adored The spirit of divinest Liberty. SOOTT, TIME. Why sitt'st thou by that ruin'd hall, Thou aged carle, so stern and gray ? Or ponder how it pass'd away? “ Know'st thou not me?" the deep voice cried, “So long enjoy'd, so oft misused Alternate, in thy fickle pride; Desired, neglected, and accused ? “Before my breath, like blazing flax, Man and his marvels pass away ; And changing empires wane and wax, Are founded, flourish, and decay. “ Redeem mine hours—the space is brief While in my glass the sand-grains shiver, And measureless thy joy or grief, When Time and thou shalt part for ever!” CORONACH. He is gone to the mountain, He is lost to the forest, When our need was the sorest. From the raindrops shall borrow, To Duncan no morrow ! The hand of the reaper Takes the ears that are hoary, Wails manhood in glory. The autumn winds rushing Waft the leaves that are searest, When blighting was nearest. FLODDEN. (1.) THE ONSET. “But, see ! look up -on Flodden bent, The Scottish foe has fired his tent." And sudden, as he spoke, Was wreathed in sable smoke. As down the hill they broke ; Nor martial shout, nor minstrel tone, Announced their march, their tread alone, At times one warning trumpet blown, At times a stifled hum, Told England, from his mountain-throne King James did rushing come.- And such a yell was there, |