 | The poetical writings of Fitz-Greene Halleck, with extracts from those of Joseph Rodman Drake |  |
IN HER ISLAND HOME.
WRITTEN IN MISS BRONSON'S ALBUM.
[In the olden time, a sect of Persian philosophers formed a society dedicated to Silence. Their number was limited to ten. One of the brotherhood, a personage who was never known to speak in his lifetime, and of whom no one has ever been heard to speak since, died. Among the applicants for the vacant chair was “Sadi,” a “sage grave man,” remarkable for saying nothing, at least nothing to the purpose. Unfortunately, ere he reached the place of meeting, the choice had fallen on another. The president announced this by placing a wineglass on the table, and filling it up to the brim. As Sadi entered, he pointed toward it. Sadi bowed, as is usual on such occasions, then took a roseleaf from the floor, and placed it so lightly on the bubbles of the wine, that not a drop was spilt. They received him.— Cotton Mather.]
The Queen of Beauty sat at noon,
In the shade of one of her wild-rose bowers,
Watching the spray of the bright sea-showers,
As it sparkled in the sun of June.
Was as sweet as a smile can be,
For that day had her minstrel-worshippers laid
On her altar a book where each pen had paid
Its vows to their island-deity.
As the hopes of the hearts she had fettered,
A magical name on the book was enrolled,
And its hot-pressed pages were tipped with gold,
And 'twas bound in green, and lettered.
The victims her frowns had killed,
A stranger-bard, from a far-off shore,
Came blushing, and said, “Here is one song more;”
She answered, “The pages are filled.”
To check the sigh as it rose;
And, plucking a roseleaf, he tremblingly wove
Into very bad verses the tale which, above,
Is written in good plain prose.
On the tears of your victims are feeding,
As the sunbeam feeds upon drops of dew,
Keep this withered leaf in the book—'twill do
To mark where you left off reading.”
| The poetical writings of Fitz-Greene Halleck, with extracts from those of Joseph Rodman Drake | |