The Poetical Works of Howitt, Milman, and Keats

"I sank down on the couch to rest,
The while he watched near;
I slept I woke-oh, awful Judge!
I woke - and I am here!"

THE DREAM OF PETICIUS.

STILL lay the vessel like a sleeping thing; The calm waves with a quiet ripple died; The lazy breeze seemed all too faint to bring The cry of sea-birds dipping in the tide; The flagging streamer droopingly did cling

Unto the mast. The unruffled ocean wide Lay like a mirror, in whose depths were seen Each sunlit peak, and woody headland green.

II.

More than a league they had not sailed that day; Yet on the coast was seen each sleeping hill; And island, that at noon before them lay,

In the calm evening lay before them still. The wearied seamen sped the time away

With snatches of blithe song or whistle shrill; And in a group apart, the people told Wild tales, and dreams, and dark traditions old.

III.

The captain was a thoughtful man, whose prime
Had been in foreign lands and voyage spent ;
Who brought back marvellous history from each clime,
And found adventure wheresoe'er he went.
And, as such men are wont in idle time,

He from his life drew pleasant incident;
Then, as if woke to thought, began to say
What a strange dream he had ere break of day.

IV.

""T was while our vessel scudding to the breeze,

Fled, like a strong bird, from your pleasant shore, My dream was of these bright and stirless seas,

The flagging canvass, and the useless oar;

I saw, as now I see, in slumbrous ease

"While then I stood, as even now I stand,
My eye upon the stilly ocean bent,

I saw a boat push quickly from the land,
And eager rowers with a firm intent
Make towards the ship. Within, a little band
Sate in mute sadness, as by travel spent ;
And 'mid them one, superior to the rest,
Pale, as his soul by heavier thought was prest.

Till the Dictator quaked; or when he bore

In triumph trophies from ten nations quelled, Ardent and bold, whom myriads as he went Hailed as immortal and magnificent.

VI.

"They neared.-and marvelling yet more and more, I saw 'twas Pompey; not as I beheld Him in the senate, when he stood before

Fierce Sylla, and with taunts his wrath repelled,

VII.

"Not now as then-pale, thoughtful, ill at rest, His fate seemed warring with his mighty will; His hand on his contracted brow was prest,

As it the force of throbbing thought could still; Anon he wrapped his mantle o'er his breast

With a calm hand, as nerved for coming ill, Then with a calm, majestic air arose,

And claimed protection from his following foes."

VIII.

Even while some pondering sate with thoughtful air,
And some made merry with so strange a tale,
All eyes were turned in sudden wonder where

White o'er the waters gleamed a little sail;On through the calm the striving pinnace bare ;

Then sorrow woke, and firmest brows grew pale, For worn and wearied, Pompey they behold, Even as that prophetic dream foretold.

Green Pelion's head, and those dim mountains hoar But the ship voyaged free to Mitylene. Resting afar; I saw yon glancing bird; And the low rippling of these waves I heard.

The sea for him by that dead calm was bound,

For now a strong wind filled the swelling sail, And shook the cordage with a rattling sound;

Forward the pennon floated on the gale, And the dark living waters heaved around;

No more the islands to the right they hail, Green Pelion's woody crown no more was seen;

LODORE, A SUMMER VISION.

OFT in the days of bright July,
When the parched earth is brown and dry,
And the hot noon-day's sun looks down
Upon the dusty, barren town,

And scorching walls, sun-smitten, glare —
And stifling is the breezeless air,
And through the day, flows all around
A ceaseless tide of wearying sound,
And busy crowds with restless feet,
Pass up and down the burning street,
I sit in some still room apart,
And summer visions fill my heart;

Visions of beauty, green and cool —
The water-lily's shadowy pool;
The untrodden wood's sequestered shine,
Where hides the lustrous columbine,
And leaves astir for ever make
A breezy freshness through the brake.

I think of some old country hall,
With carved porch, and chimneys tall,
And pleasant windows many a one,
Set deep into the old, grey stone,
Hid among trees so large and green,
"T is only dimly to be seen.

I think of its dusk garden-bowers,

Its little plots of curious flowers,

Its casements wreathed with jessamine,
Flung wide to let all odours in,
And all sweet sounds of bird and bee,
And the cool fountain's melody.

I think of mountains still and grey, Stretching in summer light away, Where the blue, cloudless skies repose Above the solitude of snows;

Of gleaming lakes, whose waters lie
In restless beauty sparklingly;
Of little island-nooks of rest
Where the grave heron makes her nest;
And wild cascades with hurrying roar,
Like the sweet tumult of Lodore —
Lodore! that name recalls to me
Visions of stern sublimity,

And pastoral vales, and lonely rills,

And shepherd people on the hills,-
And more,-old names of men unknown
Save on their mouldering church-yard stone,
Or to some mountain-chronicler

Who talketh of the days that were ;-
For, in gone years, they of my race
Had, 'mong the hills, their dwelling-place,
In an old mansion that doth stand
As in the heart of fairy land.
Then mountains, lakes, and glorious skies
Lived in their children's memories,
There tended they, in evening hours,
Their garden's antiquated flowers,
And, on the Skiddaw mountain grey
They gambolled through the sunny day,-
Blest summer revellers! and did float
On Keswick Lake their little boat!-

Let Mammon's sons with visage lean,
Restless and vigilant, and keen,
Whose thought is but to buy and sell,
In the hot, toiling city dwell;
Give me to walk on mountains bare,
Give me to breathe the open air,
To hear the village-children's mirth,
To see the beauty of the earth-
In wood and wild, by lake and sea
To dwell with foot and spirit free!

DU GUESCLIN'S RANSOM.

THE black Prince Edward sate at meat
Amid his chivalrie,

Two hundred knights at the board were set,
And the rosy wine ran free:

They were mailed men in merry cheer,
And the Prince sate on the dais,

And his laugh was loudest through the hall,
Upon that day of grace:

And some they told the jester's tale,
And some they gaily sang,

Till the hall of old Valenciennes
To the dusky rafters rang;

But 'mid the mirth and 'mid the wine
There sate an aged knight,

And heavy thoughts within his soul
Had dimmed his spirits light;

Quoth Edward, "By my faith, this man
Doth mar our heartsome cheer!
Sir knight, do battle with thy woe,
Or stay no longer here."

'My liege." said he, " my soul is dark
With pondering on the wrong,
Done to the bravest man of France,
Within a dungeon strong,
Where night and day he pineth sore
To hear the small birds' song,
And all afar through Christendom
Thou'rt blamed for his thrall,

Even by the knights at thy right hand, And the fair dames in the hall!"

"He shall be free!" Prince Edward said, "No longer on a name,

So fair and far renowned as mine

Shall rest unknightly shame! Go fetch him from his dungeon deep,

Myself will do him right." Eftsoons into that banquet room

Was brought the prisoned knight. Quoth Edward, "Thou'rt a noble knight, Name now thy ransom fee, How small soe'er, by my good sword, Thy ransom it shall be!" Du Guesclin in his prison garb

Stood proudly in the ring,

And named such ransom as would free
From thrall a captive king;

Prince Edward's brow grew darkly red;

Sir Knight, I say thee nay;
Such ransom as thou nam'st, by Heaven,
No Christian knight could pay!
Three paces stepped Du Guesclin on,
And haughtier grew his brow,
Quoth he, "Is knighthood thus esteemed
By such a man as thou!

The kings of France and fair Castile
The sum would not gainsay,
And if I lacked elsewhere the gold,
My ransom they would pay;

Next morning, on his gallant steed,
With his own good sword and lance,
Rode forward, from that castle-gate,
The bravest man of France;
And the people, as he passed along,

In the sunshine shouted free,
"Du Guesclin hath great honour done
To France and chivalrie!"

THE HOUSEHOLD FESTIVAL.

"TWAS when the harvest-moon came slowly up, Broad, red and glorious o'er dark groves of pine;

In the hushed eve, when closed the flow'ret's cup,
And the blue grape hung dewy on the vine,
Forth from a porch where tendrilled plants entwine,

Weaving a shadowy hower of odorous things,
Rich voices came, telling that there were met

Beauty and youth, and mirth whose buoyant wings
Soaring aloft o'er thoughts that gloom and fret,
Gave man release from care or lured him to forget.

And, as the moon rose higher in the sky, Casting a mimic day on all around,

Then burst forth plaudits long and loud,

And they sate till set of sun,

And, in her joyful phrase, she told how he,

And the old knight said, as he poured the wine, Ere their next meeting, o'er the wave would come,

"Twas a fair deed nobly done."

Like a glad spirit, to partake their glee,
And cast delight and interest round his home:
Gaily she told, how sitting in that room

When the next harvest-moon lit up the pane,
He should, himself, his marvellous tales relate.
-Alas! encircled by the Indian main,
That night beneath a tamarind tree he sate,
Heart-sick with thoughts of home and ponderings on
his fate.

Might his grey father unto tears be moved,
Listening his grateful praise, his tears were un-
reproved.

Her bright eyes sparkling with delight and love,
Told his young sister of his travel wide,

Of pleasant sojourn in some palmy grove,
And Indian cities in their gorgeous pride;
Of desert isles where savage tribes abide,

And glorious shores and regions of old fame:
Then were his trophies from all lands displayed,
Belt, baracan, and bow of wondrous frame,
High, nodding crest, and deadly battle blade,
And birds of curious note in glittering plumes arrayed.

The heavy sea broke thundering on the shore,
The dark, dark night had gathered in the sky,

And from the desert mountains came the roar
Of ravening creatures, and a wild, shrill cry
From the scared night-birds slowly wheeling by.-
And there he lay, beneath the spreading tree,
Feverish and faint, and over heart and brain

Rushed burning love, and sense of misery,
And wild, impatient grief, and longings vain
Within his blessed home to be at rest again.

Another year-and the relentless wave
Had washed away the white bones from the shore;
And mourning for his son, down to the grave
Had gone the old man with his locks all hoar;—
The household festival was held no more ;-

And when the harvest-moon came forth again,
O'er the dark pines, in red autumnal state,

Her light fell streaming through the window-pane
Of that old room, where his young sister sate
With her down-droopèd head, and heart all desolate.

THE THREE AGES.

How beautiful are ye,
Age, Youth, and Infancy!
She, with slowly tottering pace,
She, with light and youthful grace,
And the child with clustering locks;
All, all are beautiful!

For in them I can see,

Thus pictured forth, a lesson that is full
Of the strong interests of humanity.
Childhood all sorrow mocks;

It dwells in pleasant places;
Sees ever-smiling faces!

Flowers, and fair butterflies, and pebbly brooks,
These are its teachers and its lesson-books!
If chance a cloud come over it to-day,
Before to-morrow it hath passed away.
It has no troubling dreams;

No cogitations dark, no wily schemes;
It counteth not the cost

Of what its soul desires, with thoughtful trouble;

Knows not how days are lost

How love is but a bubble;

Knows not an aching forehead, a tired brain;
Nor the heart sickening with a hopeless pain!
Oh, happy infancy!

Life's cares have small companionship with thee!

A child no more! a maiden now,

A graceful maiden, with a gentle brow;
A cheek tinged lightly, and a dove-like eye;
And all hearts bless her, as she passes by!
Fair creature, in this morning of her youth,
She is all love, she is all truth!
She doubteth none; she doth believe
All true, for she can not deceive!
Dear maiden, thou must learn, ere long,
That hope has but a Syren's song;
That Love is not what he would swear;
That thou must look before, behind-
The gentlest need be most aware-
A serpent 'mong the flowers is twined!
I mourn, sweet maiden, thou must learn
Aught so ungracious, aught so stern!

Oh, youth! how fair, how dear thou art;
How fairer yet thy truth of heart!
That guileless innocence, that clings
Unto all pure, all gentle things!
Alas! that Time must take from thee
Thy beautiful simplicity!

Age, leaning on its staff, with feeble limb,

Grey hair, and vision dim,

Doth backward turn its eye,

And few and evil seem the days gone by!
Oh! venerable age! hast thou not proved all things,

Love, Hope, and Promise fair,

And seen them vanish into air,

Like rainbows on a summer's eve!

Riches unto themselves have taken wings;

Love flattered to deceive;

And Hope has been a traitor unto thee!
And thou hast learned, by many a bitter tear,

By days of weary sorrow, nights of fear,
That all is vanity!

Yet, venerable age,

Full of experience sage,

Well may the good respect thee, and the wise!

For thou hast living faith,

Triumphant over death,

Which makes the future lovely to thine eyes!

Thou knowest that, ere long,

"T will be made known to thee,

Why virtue is so weak, why evil strong;
Why love is sorrow, joy a mockery.

And thus thou walkest on in cheerfulness,
And the fair maiden and the child dost bless!

Oh! beautiful are ye,

Age, Youth, and Infancy!

These are your names in Time,

When the eye darkens and the cheek grows pale; But in yon fairer clime,

Where Life is not a melancholy tale,

Where woe comes not, where never enters Death, Ye will have other names-Joy, Love, and Faith!

MOURNING ON EARTH.

SHE lay down in her poverty,
Toil-stricken, though so young;
And the words of human sorrow

Fell trembling from her tongue. There were palace-houses round her; And pomp and pride swept by The walls of that poor chamber, Where she lay down to die.

Two were abiding with her,
The lowly of the earth,-
Her feeble, weeping sister,
And she who gave her birth.
She lay down in her poverty,

Toil-stricken, though so young;
And the words of human sorrow

Fell from her trembling tongue. "Oh, Lord, thick clouds of darkness About my soul are spread, And the waters of affliction

Have gathered o'er my head! "Yet what is life? A desert,

Whose cheering springs are dry, A weary, barren wilderness!Still it is hard to die!

"Arise, put on the garments

Which the redeemed wore! Now sorrow hath no part in thee, Thou sanctified from sin!

“Awake and breathe the living air Of our celestial clime!

Awake to love which knows no change, Thou, who hast done with time!

"Awake, lift up thy joyful eyes,

See, all heaven's host appears; And be thou glad exceedingly,

Thou, who hast done with tears! "Awake! ascend! Thou art not now With those of mortal birth, — The living God hath touch'd thy lips, Thou who hast done with earth!"

THE TEMPLE OF JUGGERNAUT.

This is the most celebrated and sacred temple in Hindostan, and was built about the year 1198, by Rajah Anonda Bheem Deb, at a cost of 500,000 pounds sterling. The principal entrance is the Singha-Devar, or the "Lion-Gate," immediately in front of which is a beautiful column dedicated to the

sun.

The chief idol, called Juggernaut, is a huge unsightly figure of wood, bearing some distant resemblance to the human form: it is painted black, with a red mouth, and large red and white circles for eyes.

The ceremony of drawing the car takes place in June, and it is calculated that about 200,000 pilgrims, three-fourths of them females, annually resort to this festival, of whom at least 50,000 perish by sickness, hunger, and fatigue, and by voluntarily throwing themselves under its ponderous wheels.

THE winds are stirred with tumult-on the air
Sound drum and trumpet, atabal and gong-
Strong voices loud uplift a barbarous song.
Vast is the gathering-while the priests declare
The seven-headed god is passing there.

On roll his chariot-wheels, while every roll
From prostrate bodies crushes forth a soul;
Rejoicing such last agony to bear.

Such are thy creeds, O man! when thou art given To thy own fearful nature-false and stern!

What were we now, but that all-pitying Heaven Sent us a holier, purer faith to learn?

Type of its message came the white-winged doveWhat is the Christian's creed?-Faith, Hope and Love.

HOUSEHOLD TREASURES.
WHAT are they? gold and silver,
Or what such ore can buy?
The pride of silken luxury;

Rich robes of Tyrian dye?
Guests that come thronging in
With lordly pomp and state?
Or thankless, liveried serving-men,
To stand about the gate?

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The Poetical Works of Howitt, Milman, and Keats: Complete in One Volume