Now for the fight now for the cannon-peal – The volley's roll, the rocket's blasting spire; Think of the orphaned child, the murdered sire; Körner. CCXXXIV. THE MAIN TRUCK, OR A LEAP FOR LIFE. LD Ironsides at anchor lay OL In the harbor of Mahon; A dead calm rested on the bay, The waves to sleep had gone ; A shudder shot through every vein, No hold had he above, below; Alone he stood in air: To that far height none dared to go; No aid could reach him there. We gazed, - but not a man could speak! With horror all aghast, In groups, with pallid brow and cheek, We watched the quivering mast. As riveted unto the spot, Stood officers and crew. CATILINE ON HIS BANISHMENT FROM ROME. BANISHED from Rome! What's banished, but set free From daily contact of the things I loathe ? "Tried and convicted traitor!" Who says Who'll prove it, at his peril, on my head? this? Banished? -I thank you for 't. It breaks my chain! Smile on, my lords; I scorn to count what feelings, withered hopes, But here I stand and scoff you : - here I fling Hatred and full defiance in your face. Your consul's merciful. For this all thanks. He dares not touch a hair of Catiline. .6 Traitor!" I go but I return. This trial! Here I devote your senate! I've had wrongs, To stir a fever in the blood of age, Or make the infant's sinews strong as steel. This day's the birth of sorrows! This hour's work Shapes hot from Tartarus ! — all shapes and crimes : G. Croly. CCXXXVI. APOSTROPHE TO THE OCEAN. THERE is a pleasure in the pathless woods, There is society where none intrudes, What I can ne'er express, yet cannot all conceal. Roll on, thou deep and dark blue ocean - roll! Stops with the shore! upon the watery plain His steps are not upon thy paths, thy fields thou dost arise And shake him from thee; the vile strength he wields For earth's destruction, thou dost all despise, The armaments which thunderstrike the walls Thy shores are empires, changed in all save thee Thou glorious mirror, where the Almighty's form Calm or convulsed in breeze, or gale or storm, Icing the pole, or in the torrid clime Dark-heaving; boundless, endless, and sublime Of the Invisible; even from out thy slime The monsters of the deep are made; each zone Obeys thee; thou goest forth, dread, fathomless, alone. Lord Byron CCXXXVII. BATTLE OF WATERLOO. HERE was a sound of revelry by night; THER And Belgium's capital had gathered then The lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men, Music arose with its voluptuous swell, Soft eyes looked love to eyes which spake again, And all went merry as a marriage bell ; But hush! hark! a deep sound strikes like a rising knell' Or the car rattling o'er the stony street: Ɔn with the dance! let joy be unconfined; No sleep till morn, when Youth and Pleasure meet But, hark! that heavy sound breaks in once more, As if the clouds its echo would repeat; And nearer, clearer, deadlier than before! Arm! Arm! it is it is the cannon's opening roar ! Ah! then and there was hurrying to and fro, And gathering tears, and tremblings of distress, And cheeks all pale, which but an hour ago Blushed at the praise of their own loveliness; And there were sudden partings, such as press The life from out young hearts, and choking sighs Which ne'er might be repeated. Who could guess If ever more should meet those mutual eyes, Since upon night so sweet such awful morn could rise? And there was mounting in hot haste: the steed, |