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PART I. The Arrow and the Song. "The Arrow and the Song," by Longfellow (1807-82), is placed first in this volume out of respect to a little girl of six years who used to love to recite it to me. She knew many poems, but this was her favourite.I shot an arrow into the air,It fell to earth, I knew not where;For, so swiftly it flew, the sightCould not follow it in its flight.I breathed a song...
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Matthew Arnold
QUIET WORKOne lesson, Nature, let me learn of thee,One lesson which in every wind is blown,One lesson of two duties kept at oneThough the loud world proclaim their enmity—Of toil unsever'd from tranquillity!Of labour, that in lasting fruit outgrowsFar noisier schemes, accomplish'd in repose,Too great for haste, too high for rivalry!Yes, while on earth a thousand discords ring,Man's...
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Edmund Goldsmid
When raging Love, with fierce assault, Strikes at fair Beauties gate,What army hath she to resist And keepe her court and state? She calleth first on Chastitie To lende her help in time;And Prudence no lesse summons shee To meet her foe so trim. And female Courage she alwaye Doth bring unto the walle,To blowe the trump in her dismaye, Fearing her fort may falle. On force of wordes she...
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MARSK STIG’S DAUGHTERS Two daughters fair the Marshal had,O grievous was their fate and sad. The eldest she took her sister’s handAnd away they went to Sweden’s land. Home from the Stevn King Byrgye rode;Up to him Marsk Stig’s daughters trode. “What women ye who beset my gate?What brings ye hither at eve so late?” “Daughters of Stig, the Marshal brave,So earnestly thee for help we...
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John Milton
THE FIRST BOOK I, WHO erewhile the happy Garden sung By one man's disobedience lost, now sing Recovered Paradise to all mankind, By one man's firm obedience fully tried Through all temptation, and the Tempter foiled In all his wiles, defeated and repulsed, And Eden raised in the waste Wilderness. Thou Spirit, who led'st this glorious Eremite Into the...
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THE RETURN OF THE DEAD Swayne Dyring o’er to the island strayed; And were I only young again!He wedded there a lovely maid— To honied words we list so fain. Together they lived seven years and more; And were I only young again!And seven fair babes to him she bore— To honied words we list so fain. Then death arrived in luckless hour; And were I only young again!Then died the...
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PART I. Marsk Stig he out of the country rode To win him fame with his good bright sword;At home meantide the King will bide In hope to lure his heart’s ador’d. The King sends word to the Marshal Stig That he to the fields of war should fare;Himself will deign at home to remain And take the charge of his Lady fair. In came the Marshal’s serving man, And a kirtle of green that...
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KING HACON’S DEATH And now has happened in our day What was in ancient time foretold:Beneath his hand all Norroway’s land Has Hacon brought, the wise and bold. Full many a warrior summons he From all the country far and near;To Scotland’s realm, with shield and helm, Across the sea the King will steer. As many as sword and helm can bear With him must sail across the foam;All...
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KING DIDERIK AND THE LION’S FIGHT WITH THE DRAGON From Bern rode forth King Diderik, A stately warrior form;Engaged in fray he found in the way A lion and laidly worm. They fought for a day, they fought for two, But ere the third was flown,The worm outfought the beast, and brought To earth the lion down. Then cried the lion in his need When he the warrior saw:“O aid me quick,...
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I. THE WEST Beyond the moor and the mountain crest—Comrade, look not on the west—The sun is down and drinks awayFrom air and land the lees of day. The long cloud and the single pineSentinel the ending line,And out beyond it, clear and wan,Reach the gulfs of evening on. The son of woman turns his browWest from forty countries now,And, as the edge of heaven he eyes,Thinks eternal thoughts, and sighs....
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