Over the shining sands the wandering cattle homeward Follow each other at your call, O Bells of Lynn ! The distant lighthouse hears, and with his flaming signal Answers you, passing the watchword on, O Bells of Lynn! And down the darkening coast run the tumultuous surges, And clap their hands, and shout to you, O Bells of Lynn! Till from the shuddering sea, with your wild incantations, Ye summon up the spectral moon, O Bells of Lynn ! And startled at the sight, like the weird woman of Endor, Ye cry aloud, and then are still, O Bells of Lynn ! KILLED AT THE FORD HE is dead, the beautiful youth, Hushed all murmurs of discontent. Only last night, as we rode along, Down the dark of the mountain gap, To visit the picket-guard at the ford, Little dreaming of any mishap, We lifted him up to his saddle again, Carried him back to the silent camp, Two white roses upon his cheeks, And I saw in a vision how far and fleet crown, And the neighbors wondered that she should die. GIOTTO'S TOWER How many lives, made beautiful and sweet By self-devotion and by self-restraint, Whose pleasure is to run without complaint On unknown errands of the Paraclete, Wanting the reverence of unshodden feet, Fail of the nimbus which the artists paint Around the shining forehead of the saint, And are in their completeness incomplete ! In the old Tuscan town stands Giotto's tower, The lily of Florence blossoming in stone, A vision, a delight, and a desire, He was humming the words of some old The builder's perfect and centennial flower, Their solitary watch on tower and steep; Birds build their nests; while canopied with leaves Parvis and portal bloom like trellised bowers, Feel the fresh breathing of To-morrow | And the vast minster seems a creep. To-morrow! the mysterious, unknown guest, Who cries to me: "Remember Barmecide, And tremble to be happy with the rest." And I make answer: "I am satisfied; I dare not ask; I know not what is best; God hath already said what shall betide." DIVINA COMMEDIA The six sonnets which follow were written during the progress of Mr. Longfellow's work in translating the Divina Commedia, and were published as poetical flyleaves to the three parts. The first was written just after he had put the first two cantos of the Inferno into the hands of the printer. This, with the second, prefaced the Inferno. The third and fourth introduced the Purgatorio, and the fifth and sixth the Paradiso. I OFT have I seen at some cathedral door feet Enter, and cross himself, and on the floor Far off the noises of the world retreat; pray, The tumult of the time disconsolate To inarticulate murmurs dies away, II How strange the sculptures that adorn these towers! This crowd of statues, in whose folded sleeves flowers! cross of Thy flame is blown abroad from all the heights, Through all the nations, and a sound is heard, As of a mighty wind, and men devout, Strangers of Rome, and the new proselytes, In their own language hear thy wondrous word, And many are amazed and many doubt. NOËL ENVOYÉ À M. AGASSIZ, LA VEILLE DE NOËL 1864, AVEC UN PANIER DE VINS DIVERS The basket of wine which Mr. Longfellow sent to his friend with these verses was accompanied by the following note: "A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all the house of Agassiz! I send also six good wishes in the shape of bottles. Or is it wine? It is both; good wine and good wishes and kind memories of you on this Christmas Eve." A translation of the verses was printed by Mr. John E. Norcross of Philadelphia in a brochure, 1867. L'Académie en respect, Nonobstant l'incorrection A la faveur du sujet, Ture-lure, N'y fera point de rature; GUI BARÔZAI. QUAND les astres de Noël Allons donc chez Agassiz!" Ces illustres Pèlerins D'Outre-Mer adroits et fins, Eil-de-Perdrix, grand farceur, Sans reproche et sans pudeur, Dans son patois de Bourgogne, Bredouillait comme un ivrogne, "Bons amis, J'ai dansé chez Agassiz!" Verzenay le Champenois, Bon Français, point New-Yorquois, J'ai chanté chez Agassiz!" "Bénédictions sur le Juste ! Bons amis, Bénissons Père Agassiz!" Ils arrivent trois à trois, À la porte d'Agassiz! "Ouvrez donc, mon bon Seigneur, Ouvrez vite et n'ayez peur ; Ouvrez, ouvrez, car nous sommes Gens de bien et gentilshommes, Bons amis De la famille Agassiz!" Chut, ganaches! taisez-vous ! |