of an inhabitant was to be seen. We probed their cells as far as the ramrods of our rifles would reach, but in vain. Moving quietly to a little distance, we lay down upon the ground, and watched for a long time, silent and motionless. By and by, a cautious old burgher would slowly put forth the end of his nose, but instantly draw it in again. Another, at a greater distance, would emerge entirely; but, catching a glance of us, would throw a somerset and plunge back again into his hole. At length, some who resided on the opposite side of the village, taking courage from the continued stillness, would steal forth, and hurry off to a distant hole, the residence, possibly, of some family connection or gossiping friend, about whose safety they were solicitous, or with whom they wished to compare notes about the late occurrences. Others, still more bold, assembled in little knots in the streets and public places, as if to discuss the recent outrages offered to the commonwealth, and the atrocious murders of their fellow burghers. 6. We rose from the ground, and moved forward to take a nearer view of these public proceedings, when, yelp! yelp! yelp!-there was a shrill alarm passed from mouth to mouth the meeting suddenly dispersed: feet twinkled in the air in every direction, and, in an instant, all had vanished into the earth. 7. The dusk of the evening put an end to our observations, but the train of whimsical comparisons produced in my brain, by the moral attributes which I had heard given to these little, politic animals, still continued after my return to camp; and, late in the night, as I lay awake, after all the camp was asleep, and heard, in the stillness of the hour, a faint clamor of shrill voices from the distant village, I could not help picturing to myself the inhabitants gathered together in noisy assembly and windy debate, to devise plans for the public safety, and to vindicate the invaded rights and insulted dignity of the republic. CXVII.-THANATOPSIS. BRYANT. [Thanatopsis is composed of the Greek words, thanatos meaning death, and opsis, a view. Together, therefore, they signify a view of death or "Reflections on Death."] 1. To him, who, in the love of nature, holds 2. 3. 4. When thoughts Of the last bitter hour, come like a blight Of the stern agony, and shroud, and pall, And breathless darkness, and the narrow house, To nature's teaching, while from all around, "Yet a few days, and thee, The all-beholding sun shall see no more In all his course; nor yet, in the cold ground, Nor in the embrace of ocean, shall exist Thy image. Earth, that nourished thee, shall claim To mix forever with the elements, To be a brother to th' insensible rock And to the sluggish clod, which the rude swain Turns with his share and treads upon. The oak Shall send his roots abroad, and pierce thy mold. Shalt thou retire alone, nor could'st thou wish 5. 6. The powerful of the earth, the wise, the good, The hills, Rock-ribbed, and ancient as the sun: the vales, The venerable woods: rivers that move In majesty, and the complaining brooks That make the meadows green; and, poured round all, Old ocean's gray and melancholy waste, Are but the solemn decorations all Of the great tomb of man. The golden sun, The planets, all the infinite host of heaven, All that tread The globe, are but a handful, to the tribes 7. So shalt thou rest; and what if thou shalt fall The youth in life's green spring, and he who goes Shall, one by one, be gathered to thy side, 8. So live, that when thy summons comes to join To the pale realms of shade, where each shall take Thou go not like the quarry-slave at night, First Voice. CXVIII. THE CHURCH-YARD. (Two Voices from the Grave.) KARAMISIN. How frightful the grave! how deserted and drear! Second Voice. How peaceful the grave! its quiet how deep! First Voice. There, riots the blood-crested worm on the dead, Second Voice. How lovely, how sweet the repose of the tomb! First Voice. The ravens of night flap their wings o'er the grave: 'Tis the vulture's abode: 'tis the wolf's dreary cave, Where they tear up the dead with their fangs. Second Voice. There, the cony, at evening, disports with his love, Or rests on the sod; while the turtles above First Voice. Repose on the bough that o'erhangs. There, darkness and dampness, with poisonous breath, The trees are all barren and bare. Second Voice. O! soft are the breezes that play round the tomb, First Voice. With lilies and jessamine fair. The pilgrim, who reaches this valley of tears, Second Voice. Here, the traveller, worn with life's pilgrimage dreary, Lays down his rude staff, like one that is weary, And sweetly reposes forever. CXIX.-JEPHTHAH'S DAUGHTER. 1. SHE stood before her father's gorgeous tent, For a fond father, gushing as it does Must be holier! The wind bore on The leaden tramp of thousands. Clarion notes And the low, mingled din of mighty hosts, Returning from the battle, poured from far, 2. Jephthah led his warriors on WILLIS. Through Mizpeh's streets. His helm was proudly set, Might quell a lion. He led on; but thoughts Seemed gathering round which troubled him. The veins Upon his forehead were distinctly seen; And his proud lip was painfully compressed. Glanced forward frequently, as if some ill He dared not meet, were there. His home was near, And men were thronging, with that strange delight They have in human passions, to observe The struggle of his feelings with his pride. |