TO THE CONDOR. WONDROUS, majestic bird! whose mighty wing Powerful to soar in strength and pride on high, Chooses its place of rest. Proud nursling of the tempest! where repose In what far clime of night Dost thou in silence, breathless and alone- Suspend thy tireless flight? The mountain's frozen peak is lone and bare, Yet 'tis thy sport to soar Far o'er its frowning summit-and the plain Would seek to win thy downward wing in vain, Or the green sea-beat shore. The limits of thy course no daring eye Has mark'd; thy glorious path of light on high Is trackless and unknown; The gorgeous sun thy quenchless gaze may share; Sole tenant of his boundless realm of air, Thou art, with him, alone. Imperial wanderer! the storms that shake Beyond the bolt-beyond the lightning's gleam, Thy home-immensity! And thus the soul, with upward flight like thine, May track the realms where Heaven's own glories And scorn the tempter's power; [shine, Yet meaner cares oppress its drooping wings; Still to earth's joys the sky-born wanderer clingsThose pageants of an hour! THE ISLE OF REST. Some of the islands where the fancied paradise of the Indians was situated, were believed to be in Lake Superior. THAT blessed isle lies far away "Tis many a weary league from land, No tempest's wrath, or stormy waters' roar, There the light breezes lie at rest, There the wild swan, with plumed and glossy wing, And far within, in murmurs heard, Comes, with the wind's low whispers there, The sportive brook, with free and silvery tide, Spring forth the forest-flowers. The fountain flings aloft its showery spray, Through hill, and plain, and dell. The wild bird trills his song-and from the wood There, where the sun sets on the sea, To those sweet shades come down. And see, faint gleaming o'er the waters' foam, THE VANITY OF THE VULGAR GREAT. STAY, thou ambitious rill, Ignoble offering of some fount impure! Beneath the rugged hill, Gloomy with shade, thou hadst thy birth obscure; With faint steps issuing slow, In scanty waves among the rocks to flow. Fling not abroad thy spray, Nor fiercely lash the green turf at thy side! With liquid snows hath swollen thy foaming tide! To still thy boastings with his scorching noon. Lo! calmly through the vale The Po, the king of rivers, sweeps along; Bears on his breast-proud vessels, swift and strong; 'Neath summer's sun recedes his lessen'd tide. Thou, threatening all around, Dost foam and roar along thy troubled path; Stunning the gazer with thy noisy wrath! Of all thy boasted glories is thine own. The smile of yonder sky Is brief, and change the fleeting seasons know: Soon to their death thy brawling waves shall flow. Shall pass the traveller with unmoisten'd feet. A PARALLEL. THE waves that on the sparkling sand Those billows, in their ceaseless play, The summer winds, which wandering sigh So gently as they murmur by, Scarce lift the drooping flower. Thus worldly cares, though lightly borne, And spirits, which their bonds would spurn, The blighting traces find. Till alter'd thoughts and hearts grown cold The change of passing years unfold. LAKE GEORGE. NoT in the banner'd castle, Beside the gilded throne, On fields where knightly ranks have strode, In feudal halls-alone The spirit of the stately mien, Whose presence flings a spell Fadeless on all around her, In empires loves to dwell. Gray piles and moss-grown cloisters. Breathes from the woods and sky, Proudlier these rocks and waters speak Here nature built her ancient realm Here shines the sun of Freedom Where Freedom's heroes by the shore In peaceful glory sleep; And deeds of high and proud emprize To hearts that now are cold. Farewell, then, scenes so lovely! Or morning on these glad, green isles TO THE WHIP-POOR-WILL. BIRD of the lone and joyless night, Whence is thy sad and solemn lay? Attendant on the pale moon's light, Why shun the garish blaze of day? When darkness fills the dewy air, Nor sounds the song of happier bird, Alone, amid the silence, there Thy wild and plaintive note is heard. Thyself unseen, thy pensive moan Pour'd in no living comrade's ear, The forest's shaded depths alone Thy mournful melody can hear. Beside what still and secret spring, In what dark wood, the livelong day, Sitt'st thou, with dusk and folded wing, To while the hours of light away? Sad minstrel thou hast learn'd, like me, That life's deceitful gleam is vain; And well the lesson profits thee, Who will not trust its charm again. Thou, unbeguiled, thy plaint dost trill SONG. COME, fill a pledge to sorrow, And if there's sunshine in our hearts, "T will light our theme the more. And pledge we dull life's changes, As round the swift hours pass— Too kind were fate, if none but gems Should sparkle in Time's glass. The dregs and foam together Unite to crown the cup And well we know the weal and wo That fill life's chalice up! Life's sickly revellers perish, The goblet scarcely drain'd; Then lightly quaff, nor lose the sweets Which may not be retain❜d. What reck we that unequal Its varying currents swell The tide that bears our pleasures down, Buries our griefs as well. And if the swift-wing'd tempest Have cross'd our changeful day, Then grieve not that naught mortal A mantling pledge to sorrow; JAMES ALDRICH. [Born, 1810.] JAMES ALDRICH was born near the Hudson, in the county of Suffolk, on the tenth of July, 1810. He received his education partly in Orange county, and partly in the city of New York, where, early in life, he became actively engaged in mercantile business. In 1836 he was married to MATILDA, daughter of Mr. JOHN B. LYON, of Newport, Rhode He has since devoted Island, and in the same year relinquished the occupation of a merchant. his attention entirely to literature; and has edited two or three popular periodicals. He resides in New York. MORN AT SEA. CLEARLY, with mental eye, Where the first slanted ray of sunlight springs, In youth's divinest glow, She stands upon a wandering cloud of dew, The child of light and air! O'er land or wave, where'er her pinions move, Athwart this wide abyss, On homeward way impatiently I drift; O, might she bear me now where sweet flowers lift Their eyelids to her kiss! Her smile hath overspread The heaven-reflecting sea, that evermore Is tolling solemn knells from shore to shore Most like an angel-friend, With noiseless footsteps, which no impress leave, How joyfully will hail, With reenliven'd hearts, her presence fair, The hapless shipwreck'd, patient in despair, Watching a far-off sail. Vain all affection's arts To cheer the sick man through the night have been: She to his casement goes, and, looking in, Death's shadow thence departs. How many, far from home, Wearied, like me, beneath unfriendly skies, Lone voyager on time's sea! Welcome as this to me! A DEATH-BED. HER suffering ended with the day, And breathed the long, long night away, But when the sun, in all his state, She pass'd through Glory's morning-gate, MY MOTHER'S GRAVE. In beauty lingers on the hills The death-smile of the dying day; I watch the river's peaceful flow, Here, standing by my mother's grave, Gon gives us ministers of love, Which we regard not, being near; Death takes them from us-then we feel That angels have been with us here! As mother, sister, friend, or wife, They guide us, cheer us, soothe our pain; Hath fallen the free, repentant tear. Mid sweet remembrances of thee. The harvest of my youth is done, And manhood, come with all its cares, Dear mother! couldst thou know my thoughts, The depth of feeling in my breast, Thou wouldst not blush to call me thine! 383 A SPRING-DAY WALK. ADIEU, the city's ceaseless hum, The haunts of sensual life, adieu! Green fields, and silent glens! we come, To spend this bright spring-day with you. Whether the hills and vales shall gleam With beauty, is for us to choose; For leaf and blossom, rock and stream, Are colour'd with the spirit's hues. Here, to the seeking soul, is brought A nobler view of human fate, And higher feeling, higher thought, And glimpses of a higher state. Through change of time, on sea and shore, Serenely nature smiles away; Yon infinite blue sky bends o'er Our world, as at the primal day. The self-renewing earth is moved With youthful life each circling year; And flowers that CERES' daughter loved At Enna, now are blooming here. Glad nature will this truth reveal, That Gop is ours and we are His; O, friends, my friends! what joy to feel TO ONE FAR AWAY. SWIFTER far than swallow's flight, Homeward o'er the twilight lea; Swifter than the morning light, Flashing o'er the pathless sea, Dearest in the lonely night Memory flies away to thee! Stronger far than is desire; Firm as truth itself can be; Deeper than earth's central fire; Boundless as the circling sea; Yet as mute as broken lyre, Is my love, dear wife, for thee! Sweeter far than miser's gain, Or than note of fame can be Unto one who long in vain Treads the paths of chivalryAre my dreams, in which again My fond arms encircle thee! BEATRICE. UNTOUCH'n by mortal passion, Just reach'd our distant earth! Such spiritaal expression As thy sweet features wear. An inward light to guide thee Unto thy soul is given, Pure and serene as its divine Original in heaven. Type of the ransom'd PSYCHE! How gladly, hand in hand, To some new world I'd fly with thee From off this mortal strand. LINES. UNDERNEATH this marble cold, Its Gop-given serenity. Near us glide sometimes on earth, THE DREAMING GIRL. Subdued by some unearthly charm. The amber tints that daylight gave, Upon a fainting summer-wave. Faints and glows like a dying flame; That doth on her memory gleam, And her heart leaps up with gladnessThat bliss was nothing but a dream! 1 |