Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub

Poetry of the Sentiments.

ADMIRATION.

THE OCEAN.

BY RICHARD H. DANA.

Now stretch your eye off shore, o'er waters

made

To cleanse the air and bear the world's great trade, To rise, and wet the mountains near the sun, Then back into themselves in rivers run, Fulfilling mighty uses far and wide,

Through earth, in air, or here, as ocean-tide.

Ho! how the giant heaves himself, and strains And flings to break his strong and viewless chains; Foams in his wrath; and at his prison doors, Hark! hear him! how he beats, and tugs, and

roars,

As if he would break forth again and sweep
Each living thing within his lowest deep.

11

[graphic]

TO THE URSA MAJOR.

BY HENRY WARE, JR.

WITH what a stately and majestic step That glorious constellation of the north Treads its eternal circle! going forth Its princely way among the stars in slow And silent brightness. Mighty one, all hail! I joy to see thee on thy glowing path Walk, like some stout and girded giant; stern, Unwearied, resolute, whose toiling foot Disdains to loiter on its destined way. The other tribes forsake their midnight track, And rest their weary orbs beneath the wave; But thou dost never close thy burning eye, Nor stay thy steadfast step. But on, still on, While systems change, and suns retire, and worlds Slumber and wake, thy ceaseless march proceeds. The near horizon tempts to rest in vain. Thou, faithful sentinel, dost never quit Thy long-appointed watch; but, sleepless still, Dost guard the fix'd light of the universe, And bid the north for ever know its place. Ages have witness'd thy devoted trust,

Unchanged, unchanging. When the sons of God Sent forth that shout of joy which rang through heaven,

And echo'd from the outer spheres that bound

« ForrigeFortsæt »