CASABIANCA. THE boy stood on the burning deck, The flame that lit the battle's wreck, Yet beautiful and bright he stood, A proud though child-like form. The flames roll'd on-he would not go, He call'd aloud :-" Say, father, say He knew not that the chieftain lay Unconscious of his son. Speak, father!" once again he cried, "If I may yet be gone! And," but the booming shots replied, And fast the flames roll'd on. 182 NARRATIVE AND LEGENDARY POEMS. Upon his brow he felt their breath, And in his waving hair, And look'd from that lone post of death, In still yet brave despair. And shouted but once more aloud, “My father! must I stay?” While o'er him fast, through sail and shroud, They wrapp'd the ship in splendour wild, They caught the flag on high, And stream'd above the gallant child, Like banners in the sky. There came a burst of thunder-sound,-- Ask of the winds, that far around With mast, and helm, and pennon fair, MRS. HEMANS. LYRICAL POEMS. "But hail, ye mighty masters of the lay, O let your spirit still my bosom soothe, Inspire my dreams, and my wild wanderings guide! BEATTIE'S MINSTREL. A TEAR. OH! that the chemist's magic art Could crystallize this sacred treasure! The little brilliant, ere it fell, Its lustre caught from Chloe's eye; Then, trembling, left its coral cell— The spring of sensibility! |