The string that now languishes loose o'er the lyre, For 'tis treason to love her, and death to defend. Undistinguish'd they live, if they shame not their sires; And the torch, that would light them through dignity's way, Must be caught from the pile where their country expires. Then blame not the bard, if in pleasure's soft dream Through the gloom of his country, and mark how he'll feel! Every passion it nursed, every bliss it adored, That instant, his heart at her shrine would lay down; Like the wreath of Harmodius, should cover his sword.? WHILE GAZING ON THE MOON'S LIGHT. WHILE gazing on the moon's light, A moment from her smile I turn'd, In lone and distant glory burn'd. 1 It is conjectured by Wormius, that the name of Ireland is derived from Fr, the Runic for a bow, in the use of which weapon the Irish were once very expert. This derivation is certainly more creditable to us than the following:So that Ireland (called the land of Ire, for the constant broils therein for 400 years) was now become the land of concord."-Lloyd's State Worthies, art. the Lord Grandison. 8 See the Hymn, attributed to Alcaeus, Εν μυρτοι κλαδι το ξιφος φορηρω "I will carry my sword, hidden in myrtles, like Harmodius and Aristogiton," &c. But, too far For me to feel its warming flame; That mild sphere, Which near our planet smiling came ;1 The day had sunk in dim showers, Like hope upon a mourner's cheek. The moon's smile Play'd o'er a stream, in dimpling bliss), On many brooks, "2 The brook can see no moon but this;" ILL OMENS. WHEN daylight was yet sleeping under the billow, For the youth whom she treasured her heart and her soul in, 1 "Of such celestial bodies as are visible, the sun excepted, the single moon, as despicable as it is in comparison to most of the others, is much more beneficial than they all put together."-Whiston's Theory, &c. In the Entretiens d'Ariste, among other ingenious emblems, we find a starry sky without a moon, with the words, " Non mille quod absens." This image was suggested by the following thought, which occurs somewhere in Sir William Jones's works:-" The moon looks upon many night flowers, the night flowers see but one moon.” BEFORE THE BATTLE. "O'er his watch-fire's fading embers, Now the foeman's cheek turns white."-P. 221. |