I SAW him on the battle-eve, And prouder chiefs before him: On earth-and saw from east to west I saw him next alone; nor camp He who with Heaven contended While wave and wind swept ruthless on, And Xerxes in a simple bark, Where late his thousand ships were dark, Must all thy fury dare;— Thy glorious revenge was this, Thy trophy, deathless Salamis ! JEWSBURY. THE FUGITIVE SLAVE. He stood, all bleeding on the bank, above | They came with blood-stained lash and the frothing river; gun; they stood above the flood, He heard the wild waves roaring past, he| And shook on high the felon whip, thick saw their white crests quiver; with its clotted blood; He knew that far o'er that billowy war, But the dauntless slave, 'mid the foaming hands were waiting to deliver. wave, laughed at their baffled mood. Dark was the might of the ocean flood, and He reached the bank, he sprang to land;— thunder-voiced the roar With which the broad St. Lawrence leaped by the green Canadian shore; 'twas British soil he trod! The soil where ne'er a bondman's print defiles the holy sod; But close behind, the gusty wind the But the eye turns up, like a wild flower's planter's curses bore. cup, free, glad, and light, to God! He looked to earth, he looked to heaven, he laughed in frenzied glee; The fugitive raised his tearful gaze wild gleaming to the sky : "O Heaven!" he murmured, “give me strength to reach yon shore, or die: From whip, from chain, from slavery's stain, and bondman's bread, I fly. He felt the new-sprung power within, bestirring boundingly; And he shouted high, to earth and sky, "Free!-before Heaven free!" I'm weak with hunger-spent with toil- An Arab steed on a desert plain; a bark on for long hath been my flight; And cruel eyes have traced my steps, unceasing, day and night: the blue sea-wave; An eagle soaring, his tawny wing in the golden light to lave; Have for me care, whilst thus I dare yon He was nobler than all-he had shivered the battling water's might." thrall, and spurned the name of a slave! BAINE. SONG OF LABOUR. ALL honour to the hard-worn hands And honour to the sturdy bands That earth's cold crusts are sharing! By forge and field their arms they wield, By bench and anvil toiling; In serried strength, our country's shield, And 'midst the storm his heart is warm, Up from the forge the sparkling blaze Keeps step with footfall steady; Oh! all things labour that have birth, Its motion ceases never; To good works bound for ever. Then honour to the lusty hands That earth's cold crusts are sharing! I. F. SHEPARD. LADY CLARE. It was the time when lilies blow, I trow they did not parle in scorn; He does not love me for my birth, Nor for my lands, so broad and fair; He loves me for my own true worth, And that is well," said Lady Clare. In then came old Alice the nurse; 66 66 Said, Who was this that went from She clad herself in a russet gown; thee?" It was my cousin," said Lady Clare; "To-morrow he weds with me." She was no longer Lady Clare : She went by dale and she went by down, With a single rose in her hair. "O God be thanked!" said Alice the The lily-white doe Lord Ronald had And you are not the Lady Clare." Are ye out of your mind, my nurse, my nurse," Said Lady Clare, "that ye speak so wild?"- The old Earl's daughter died at my breast- "Falsely, falsely have ye done, O mother," she said, "if this be true; brought, Leapt up from where she lay, Dropped her head in the maiden's hand, And followed her all the way. Down stepped Lord Ronald from his tower: "O Lady Clare, you shame your worth! Why come you dressed like a village maid, That are the flower of the earth?" And not the Lady Clare." "Play me no tricks," said Lord Ronald, "For I am yours in word and deed;Play me no tricks,” said Lord Ronald; Your riddle is hard to read." Oh, and proudly stood she up! Her heart within her did not fail; He laughed a laugh of merry scorn; |