Page images
PDF
EPUB

THEY that deny a God destroy man's nobility; for certainly man is of kin to the beasts by his body; and if he be not of kin to God by his spirit, he is a base ignoble creature. It destroys likewise magnanimity, and the raising of humane nature for take an example of a dog, and mark what a generosity and courage he will put on, when he finds himself maintained by a man, who to him is instead of a God, or melior natura; which courage is manifestly such, as that creature without that confidence of a better nature than his own could never attain. So man when he resteth and assureth himself upon Divine protection and favour, gathereth a force and faith which human nature in itself could not obtain.

BACON.

THERE is a kind of mournful eloquence

In thy dumb grief, which shames all clam'rous sorrow.

LEE.

STRANGER on earth! where'er thy thoughts may roam,
The wearied spirit feels-this is not home;
Indignant still, disowns a world of clay,
Where flower and weed together pass away.

Yet, wandering here with all an exile's gloom,
Misdeem not stamp'd on thee an exile's doom-
The fetter'd wings that mock thy wish to rise,
Ere long shall raise thee to thy destined skies!

O'er lands which grew beneath the aching tread, Through days of peril, and through years of dread, Say-why did Israel seek, and find no rest?

None but the promised land could make her blest.

Stranger on earth! such promise is for thee--
This but the desart path or raging sea-
And thou, who wilt not bow to idols here,
Thy rest above-thy home beyond this sphere!

If ever prayers prevail on heavenly minds,
'Tis chiefly when the offender, drinking deep
From the full cup of bitterness, prefers them :
He needs no merit then; his miseries

Become his intercessors; and the heart

Pierced with a sharp remorse for guilt, disclaims The costly poverty of hecatombs,

And offers the best sacrifice, itself.

JEFFREY.

Á NATION'S greenest laurels are entwined
With cypress, that o'erhangs the social hearth,
And casts a shade too deep to be dispelled
By all the glare of victory :-poor recompense,—
A public triumph for a broken heart.

FEELING is in its very nature transient. It is at best the meteor's blaze shedding strong but momentary day; while Principle, the true Principle, be it faint at first as the star whose ray hath newly reached our earth, is yet the living light of the higher heaven, which never more will leave us in utter darkness, but lend a steady beam to guide our path.

MISS AUSTIN.

LOVE, like the flower that courts the sun's kind ray,
Will flourish only in the smiles of day;

Distrust's cold air the generous plant annoys,
And one chill blight of dire contempt destroys.
Oh shun, my friend, avoid that dangerous coast,
Where peace expires, and fair affection's lost;
By wit, by grief, by anger urg'd, forbear
The speech contemptuous, and the scornful air.

LANGHORNE.

A PUPIL of a Deaf and Dumb School, on being asked what Eternity was? gave the following answer,66 Eternity is the lifetime of the Almighty."

WHAT gem hath dropped, and sparkles o'er his chain,
The tear most sacred, shed for others' pain,
That starts at once, bright, clear, from Pity's mine,
Already polish'd by the hand Divine.

BYRON.

FAME!

Refuge of hope, the harbinger of truth,
Handmaid of heaven, virtue's skilful guide,
The life of life, the ages' springing youth;
Triumph of joy, eternity's fair bride,
The virgin's glory, and the martyr's pride;
The courage's immortal raising fire,

The very height to which great thoughts aspire;
The stair by which men to the stars do clime,
The mind's first mover, greatness to express;
Faith's armour, and the vanquisher of time;
A pleasant sweet against death's bitterness,
The high reward which doth all labours bless
The study which doth heavenly things impart,
The joy amidst the tedious ways of art;
Learning's green laurel, justice's glorious throne,
The muses' chariot, memory's true food;
The poet's life, the God's companion,
The fire-reviving phoenix sun-nurst brood,
The spirit's eternal image, honour's good;
The balsamum which cures the soldier's scars;
The world, discovering seamen's happy stars.

DRAYTON.

THERE is something marvellously restorative in a good conscience; and one soon learns to look with hope to the future, when one can feel justified in turning with pride to the past.

RESIGNATION.

O LET my trembling soul be still,
While darkness veils this mortal eye,
And wait thy wise, Thy holy will,
Wrapt yet in fears and mystery;
I cannot, Lord, thy purpose see,
Yet all is well since ruled by thee.

So trusting in Thy love, I tread
The narrow path of duty on:

What though some cherish'd joys are fled,
What though some flatt'ring dreams are gone,
Yet purer, brighter joys remain,

Why should my spirit then complain?

EXTENDED empire, like expanded gold,

Exchanges solid strength for feeble splendour.

DR. JOHNSON.

Ask the grey pilgrim, by the surges cast

On hostile shores, and numbed beneath the blast,
Ask who received him? Who the hearth began
To kindle? Who with spilling goblet ran?
O he will dart one spark of youthful flame,
And clasp his wither'd hands, and Woman name.
Not she with trait'rous kiss her Saviour stung,
Not she denied him with unholy tongue;
She, while Apostles shrank, could dangers brave,
Last at his cross, and earliest at his grave.

BARRETT.

« PreviousContinue »