45 All day long the free flag tossed Over the heads of the rebel host ;* Ever its torn folds rose and fell On the loyal winds, that loved it well; And through the hill-gaps sunset light 50 Shone over it with a warm good-night Barbara Fritchie's work is o'er, And the rebel rides on his raid* no more. Honour to her! and let a tear Fall, for her sake, on Stonewall's bier! * 55 Over Barbara Fritchie's grave, Flag of Freedom and Union, wave! Peace, and order, and beauty draw 60 On thy stars below, in Frederick town! Rebel host, the Southern or Confederate Army. Raid, invasion, expedition. Bier, a carriage or frame of wood, for bearing the dead to the grave. Symbol, emblem, sign. THE STAR AND THE WATER-LILY.-O. W. Holmes. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES (1809- ) was born at Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S. He is a doctor of medicine, and a professor at Harvard College. Among his chief works may be mentioned The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table. THE Sun stepped* down from his golden throne, The sun stepped, &c., And the Lily* had folded her satin leaves, 5 What is the Lily dreaming of? IO Why crisp the waters blue? See, see, she is lifting her varnished lid! The Rose is cooling his burning cheek In the lap of the breathless tide; the sun set. Lily, a water-lily is a water plant like a lily, and is remarkable for its beautiful flowers and large floating leaves. Glistening, shining. Glide, pass by. "Oh, the Rose is old, and thorny, and cold, "But the Star is fair, and he lives in the air, One ray from his far-off throne; 30 The winds shall blow and the waves shall flow, There is not a leaf on the mountain top, Nor a golden sand on the sparkling shore, 35 Nor a pearl in the waters blue, Fickle, inconstant, changeable. Pallid, pale, white. That he has not cheered with his fickle * smile, And warmed with his faithless beam And will he be true to a pallid * flower, That floats on the quiet stream? 40 THE PARTING OF MARMION AND DOUGLAS.-Scott. * "Though something I might plain," he said, "Of cold respect to stranger guest, 15 Sent hither by your king's behest,* While in Tantallon's* towers I stayed, Part we in friendship from your land, And, noble earl, receive my hand." But Douglas round him drew his cloak, 20 Folded his arms, and thus he spoke :"My manors, halls, and bowers, shall still Be open, at my sovereign's will, To each one whom he lists,* howe'er Unmeet to be the owner's peer: My castles are my king's alone, From turret to foundation * stone ;The hand of Douglas is his own, And never shall in friendly grasp The hand of such as Marmion clasp." 25 35 * * * * * 30 Burned Marmion's swarthy cheek like fire, 45 Here in thy hold, thy vassals * near, And lay your hands upon your sword),- And if thou saidst I am not peer To any lord in Scotland here, Lord Angus, thou hast lied!" 50 On the earl's cheek the flush of rage O'ercame the ashen hue* of age. [then, Fierce he broke forth :-" And darest thou, The Douglas in his hall? 55 And hop'st thou hence unscathed* to go?— Up drawbridge, grooms!-what, warder,* ho! Beneath, &c., written by the king, and having his seal affixed to it. Douglas, Angus, was remark- Adieu, farewell. He lists, he pleases Unmeet, unworthy. Foundation, base- Swarthy, tawny,dark. Hoary, white or grey Haughty, proud. Meanest, poorest, Vassal, one who holds Unscathed,unharmed. PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY (1792-1822) was an English poet of great genius, and a man of very pure life and loving nature; but it was not till after his death that he received the high place which he now holds among the poets. Chief works: The Cenci, and odes to The Cloud, and The Skylark. I BRING fresh showers for the thirsting flowers, From the seas and the streams; I bear light shade for the leaves when laid From my wings are shaken the dews that The sweet buds every one, When rocked to rest on their mother's breast,* I wield the flail of the lashing* hail, And whiten the green plains under; I sift the snow on the mountains below, In a cavern under is fettered* the thunder- Over earth and ocean, with gentle motion, * Lured by the love of the Genii * that move * Over the rills* and the crags and the hills, Wherever he dream, under mountain or stream, And I, all the while, bask* in heaven's blue smile, Whilst he is dissolving in rains. 5 IO 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 * The sanguine* sunrise, with his meteor* eyes, Which an earthquake * rocks and swings, An eagle, alit, one moment may sit, In the light of its golden wings. Sanguine, blood-red; Leaps on the back, And when sunset may breathe, from the lit the sky. That orbed maiden, with white fire laden, Glides glimmering o'er my fleece-like floor, And wherever the beat of her unseen feet, Morning-star, the planet Venus, when it rises before the sun, and shines in the morning. Earthquake, a convulsion or shaking of the earth. Ardour, warmth of passion or feeling; eagerness. Orbèd, in the form of an orb or sphere; circular. May have broken the woof* of my tent's thin The woof, the cross roof, The stars peep behind her and peer; And I laugh to see them whirl* and flee, Like a swarm of golden bees, When I widen the rent in my wind-built tent, 65 70 When the whirlwinds * my banner unfurl.* Sunbeam-proof, I hang like a roof: The triumphal arch* through which I march When the powers of the air are chained to my Is the million-coloured bow; the threads woven into Whirl, to turn round |