THE SEA-IN CALM. Look what immortal floods the sunset pours What is the Giant of the ocean dead, Whose strength was all unmatched beneath the sun? BARRY CORNWALL, CAPE-COTTAGE AT SUNSET. We stood upon the ragged rocks, When the long day was nearly done; The waves had ceased their sullen shocks, And lapped our feet with murmuring tone, And o'er the bay in streaming locks Blew the red tresses of the sun. Along the West the golden bars Looked out from the unfathomed blue: And the far city's clamorous jars Seemed melted in that evening hue. O sunset sky! O purple tide! O friends to friends that closer pressed! I could not keep you by my side, Upon those rocks the waves shall beat Upon that far-off shore again? W. B. GLAZIER. A SEA-SIDE WALK. WE walked beside the sea, Of its own glory,-like the Princess weird, Uttered with burning breath, Ho, victory!' And sank adown, an heap of ashes pale. So runs the Arab tale. The sky above us showed On which the cliffs permitted us to see Only the outlines of their majesty, As master-minds, when gazed at by the crowd: And shining with a gloom, the water gray Swang in its morn-taught way. Nor moon nor stars were out, They did not dare to tread so soon about, O solemn-beating heart Of Nature! I have knowledge that thou art Still runneth thy vibration, fast and strong, For though we never spoke Of the gray water and the shaded rock, — Dark wave and stone, unconsciously, were fused Into the plaintive speaking that we used Of absent friends and memories unforsook; And, had we seen each other's face, we had Seen, haply, each was sad. ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING. 10 THE EVENING WIND. SPIRIT that breathest through my lattice, thou spray, And swelling the white sail. I welcome thee Nor I alone a thousand bosoms round Lies the vast inland, stretch'd beyond the sight. Go, rock the little wood-bird in his nest, Curl the still waters, bright with stars, and rouse The wide, old wood from his majestic rest, Summoning, from the innumerable boughs, |