A resignation of the will, a calm Derived from pure religion (that sweet balm THE SICILIAN VESPERS. BY J. G. WHITTIER. SILENCE o'er sea and earth With the veil of evening fell, But a sterner echo passed around; The startled monks thronged up, The peasant heard the sound, As he sat beside his hearth; And the song and the dance were hushed around, 32 THE SICILIAN VESPERS. The chieftain shook in his bannered hall, And the warder shrank from the castle wall, Woe, woe, to the stranger then; From the plumed chief to the pilgrim band; Proud beings fell that hour, With the young and passing fair, And the flame went up from dome and tower ; The stranger priest at the altar stood, But the holy shrine grew dim with blood; Woe, woe, to the sons of Gaul; To the serf and mailed lord; On ruined temple and mouldering pile, Ay, the sunshine sweetly smiled, How ill his dark and midnight deed Became the light of heaven. A RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW. BY THOMAS HOOD. Он, when I was a tiny boy My days and nights were full of joy, A hoop was an eternal round But now those past delights I drop, And careful thoughts the string! My marbles once my bag was stored- And harnessed to the law! My kite-how fast and far it flew ! 'Twas papered o'er with studious themes, My joys are wingless all and dead; My fears prevail, my fancies droop, 34 A RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW. My football's laid upon the shelf ;- The world knocks to and fro- No more in noontide sun I bask; And friends grown strangely cool! The very chum that shared my cake No skies so blue, or so serene Oh, for the garb that marked the boy- Well inked with black and red; The crownless hat-ne'er deemed an ill- Oh, for the riband round the neck! The careless dogs' ears apt to deck My book and collar both! How can this formal man be styled Oh, for that small, small beer anew ! Oh, for the lessons learned by heart! The Arabian Nights rehearsed in bed! The " omne bene"-Christmas come ! The prize of merit won for homeMerit had prizes then! But now I write for days and days- Without the silver pen! Then home, sweet home!-the crowded coachThe joyous shout-the loud approach The winding horns like rams'! The meeting sweet that made me thrill- No "satis" to the "jams!" |