THE MEETING OF SHIPS.

One hope alone brought fondly back,
Its toil and grief repaying;
Like him, alas! I see that ray

Of hope before me perish,

And one dark minute sweep away

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What took whole years to cherish.

MOORE.

THE MEETING OF SHIPS.

When o'er the silent seas, alone,

For days and nights we'ye cheerless (1) gone,
Oh, they who've (2) felt it, know how sweet,
Some sunny (3), morn a sail to meet,

Sparkling at once is every eye

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Ship a hoy (4)!" our joyful cry;

While answering back, the sounds we hear, 66 Ship a hoy! what cheer (5)? what cheer?" Then sails are back'd (6)

we nearer come

Kind words are said of friends and home;
And soon, too soon, we part with pain,
To sail o'er silent seas again.

(1) Cheerless, tristement.

MOORE.

(2) Who've, pour who have.

(3) Sunny, brillant, éclairé par le soleil.

(4) Ship a hoy! ho! le vaisseau.

(5) What cheer? quelles nouvélles? terme de marine, salut des marins.

(6) To back the sails, coiffer les voiles; mettre les voiles sur le mât pour arrêter la marche du vaisseau.

FOLLY OF PROCRASTINATION.

Be wise to-day; 'tis madness (1) to defer:
Next day the fatal precedent will plead;
Thus on, till wisdom is push'd out of (2) life.
Procrastination is the thief of time:

Year after year it steals, till all are fled;
And to the mercies of a moment (3) leaves
The vast concerns of an eternal scene.

THE PARTING BEFORE BATTLE.

On (4) to the field! our doom is seal'd—
To conquer, or be slaves :

The sun shall see our nation free,
Or shine upon our graves!

Farewell, oh farewell, my love!
May heaven thy guardian be,
And send bright angels from above,
To bring thee back to me!

On to the field-the battle-field,

Where freedom's standard waves!

(1) Madness, folie.

(2) To push out of, faire sortir, chasser de.

(3) The mercies of a moment, le hasard d'un moment, du dernier moment de la vie.

(4) On! en avant!

PATRIOTISM.

This sun shall see our tyrants yield,
Or shine upon our graves!

Hark! the trumpet's signal blast-(1)
Take this last farewell!

Yet, oh! not the last ;

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For hope whispers fondly that hearts so united,
So happy, ev'n death would be loth (2) to destroy,
And checking his dark hand would pause ere he blighted
A love but just opening (5) in sunshine and joy.

Onward to the battle-field,

Where freedom's standard waves!
This sun shall see our tyrants yield,

Or shine upon our graves!

MOORE.

PATRIOTISM.

Dear is the tie (4) that links (5) the anxious sire
To the fond babe that prattles (6) round his fire;
Dear is the love that prompts the grateful youth
His sire's fond cares and drooping age to sooth:

(1) The trumpet's blast, coup de trompette.

(2) To be loth, regretter, faire quelque chose à contre

cour.

(3) But just opening, naissant, dans son enfance.

(4) Tie, lien.

(5) To link, unir, réunir.

(6) To prattle, causer, jaser, caqueter.

Dear is the brother, sister, husband, wife;
Dear all the charities of social life ;

Nor wants firm friendship holy wreaths (1) to bind
In mutual sympathy the faithful mind:

But not the endearing springs (2) that fondly move To filial duty, or parental love;

Not all the ties that kindred bosoms bind,

Nor all in friendship's holy wreaths entwined (5),
Are half so dear, so potent to control
The generous workings of the patriot soul,
As is that holy voice, that cancels (4) all
These ties, that bids him for his country (5).

BISHOP BUTSON.

RETURN VICTORIOUS OR RETURN NO MORE.

Go forth (6)!-like the sun in his might;
Go forth!-like the dawning of day:

May the plume on thy casque be the star of the fight,
And thy brand be the flash of the fray (7)!

I love thee, yet ne'er be it said,

That love did thy spirit restrain;

(1) Wreaths, liens, bandes de fleurs. (2) The springs, les motifs.

(3) Entwined, réuni, entrelacé, entortillé. (4) To cancel, affacer, canceller, biffer.

(5) For his country, pour le salut de sa patrie. (6) Go forth! en avant!

(7) The flash of the fray, la torche du combat.

I had rather behold thee a hero, and dead,
Than a coward in life to remain.

Then forward and fear not!" thy battle-cry be,
With glory return, or return not to me!

I could joy o'er thy corse (1), though my tears
Should wash the red wounds death had made;
For each crimson gash (2) like a ruby appears
On the front if it be but displayed.

But oh! my soul never could bear

The thought that thou fled'st from the foe;
One scar (3) on thy back would awaken despair,
And give to my heart its death-blow!

Then forward and fear not!" thy battle-cry be,
With glory return, and be welcome to me!

ANONYMOUS.

YOUTH AND AGE.

Days of my youth! ye have glided away;
Hairs of my youth! ye are frosted (4) and gray ;
Eyes of my youth! your keen (5) sight is no more;
Cheeks of my youth! ye are furrow'd (6) alle o'er;
Strength of my youth! all your vigour is gone;
Thoughts of my youth! your gay visions are flown.

(1) Corse pour corpse,

cadavre.

(2) Gash, blessure faite par un instrument tranchant. (3) Scar, balafre, cicatrice.

(4) Frosted, glacé, blanchi.

(5) Keen, perçant.

(6) Furrow'd, ridé, sillonné.