ness, calm repose is on the beguiled senses. O soldier, rest at last, peace being obtained to you; and let not the wretched work of Mars break your dreams. Let sleep uninterrupted press upon your wearied eyes; and let sleepless night be absent, hardships by day. A clang shall not suddenly strike upon your affrighted ears, like as arms sound, and the horse champs his bit. Let not the clarion with its blast, nor the trumpet with its brass now summon the gathered tribes, the close bands of men. But at early morn; through the dressed fallows of the country; let the lark pour forth melody from her liquid throat. Let the bittern give its plaintive notes, as oft stricken drum, beside the retired pools of the reedy shallow. A harsher sound shall not be present, nor through the shades shall guard summon guard there with hoarse voice. No warhorse shall neigh, gnawing upon his bit; shout and ardour shall not urge the squadrons of horsemen.

XXXVI.

No gentle-breathing breeze prepares the spring;
No birds within this desert region sing;
The ships, unmoved, the boist'rous winds defy,
While rattling chariots o'er the ocean fly.
The vast Leviathan wants room to play,
And spout his waters in the face of day.
The starving wolves along the main sea prowl,
And to the moon in icy valleys howl.

For many a shining league the level main
Here spreads itself into a glassy plain;

There solid billows, of enormous size,
Alps of
ice in wild disorder rise.

green

The frighted birds the rattling branches shun,
And wave and glitter in the distant sun:
When, if a sudden gust of wind arise,
The brittle forest into atoms flies,

The crackling wood beneath the tempest bends,

And in a spangled shower the prospect ends.

Phillips.

Into HEXAMETERS.

XXXVI.

The breeze proclaims not gently the return of Spring, and the birds pour not forth their complaints amid these deserts. Motionless ships can contemn the winds, and chariots rattle hurried over the bound-up sea. To the Lord of the Ocean there is not where he can disport over the waves, nor scatter waters beneath the mid light of day. And love of prey urges the starving wolves on the edge of the cheerless shore, who beneath the increasing light of the moon fill the congealed valleys with their howlings. The level surface (of the sea), glittering afar on this side, afar on that, extends itself into an ample plain in the likeness of glass. Here solid billows, masses of immense weight, in hardened snow raise themselves equal to the Alpine mountains. The troops of birds shun afar off the crackling of the boughs, as, scarce seen, they glitter waving in the sunlight: when, if perchance a sudden blast of wind has arisen, the wood fragile is torn too into minute portions, and the thicket bends under the oppressive violence of the tempest. Thus at last the scene is finished in a glittering shower.

F

XXXVII.

Deep on the convent roof, the snows
Are sparkling to the moon:

My breath to heaven like vapour goes:
May my soul follow soon!

The shadows of the convent towers
Slant down the snowy sward,
Still creeping with the creeping hours
That lead me to my Lord:

Make Thou my spirit pure and clear
As are the frosty skies,

Or this first snow-drop of the year,
That in my bosom lies.

XXXVII.

Tennyson.

moon.

Into ELEGIACS.

See where along the topmost roof of the consecrated dwelling the accumulated snow glitters beneath the rays of the The breath from my mouth is added as vapour to the airs of heaven; oh would that my soul may follow so wafted there! As the slanting shadows from the sacred towers of the chapel are bent, where the sod lies hid beneath the pure snow; they creep on imperceptibly with the gently-creeping hours; of which each brings me near to my Lord. Mayest Thou give me a pure soul, born anew without stain, even as the atmosphere is bright with wintry cold; and even as the snowy floweret of the new-born year, which lies, a fair gem, in my bosom.

XXXVIII.

AUTUMN.

With what a glory comes and goes the year !
The buds of spring, those beautiful harbingers
Of sunny skies and cloudless times, enjoy
Life's newness, and earth's garniture spread out;
And when the silver habit of the clouds
Comes down upon the autumn sun, and with
A sober gladness the old year takes up
His bright inheritance of golden fruits,
A pomp and pageant fill the splendid scene.

There is a beautiful spirit breathing now
Its mellow richness on the cluster'd trees,
And, from a beaker full of richest dyes,
Pouring new glory on the autumn woods,
And dipping in warm light the pillar'd clouds.
Morn on the mountain, like a summer bird,
Lifts up her purple wing; and in the vales
The gentle wind, a sweet and passionate wooer,
Kisses the blushing leaf, and stirs up life
Within the solemn woods of ash deep-crimson'd,
And silver beech and maple yellow-leaved,
Where Autumn, like a faint old man, sits down
By the wayside, a-weary.

XXXVIII.

Longfellow.

Into HEXAMETERS.

What a glory is there of the coming, what too of the departing year! The bud, foreboding spring, brings with it

calmness of climate, a sky without clouds. Then is the newness of life, and earth bestows all her gifts. But when the gathered clouds, as a silver robe, cover the sun of autumn, then the year more glad gathers in, although in his wane, the golden fruits, the enjoyment of which devolves to him; then all things are bright, as though it were a pomp and wondrous spectacle of things. A most beauteous spirit breathes forth upon the shades of the trees its mature glory; as though it were wine from full goblets, it adds beauties still new to the woods of autumn, and steeps the turreted clouds in burning light. Aurora, on the top of the mountain, lifts, as a bird of summer, her purple wings; then in the lowest vales the light breeze, as an ardent lover, gives kisses to the sweetly blushing leaf; strength and the vigour of life it stirs up in the woods, in which the crimson ash gleams, the yellow maple is on one side, on the other the silver beech. Autumn, as an old man now weakly with years, and way-wearied, rests in the grateful shades.

XXXIX.

A thousand titles Venus bears,

A thousand changing forms she wears:
Now passion wild; now frenzied madness;
Now strength, now death, now plaining sadness;
All that can tranquillize or stir,

All opposites unite in her.

All beings her behest obey,

All hearts become, in turn, her prey.
She swims with fish the stormy main,
She walks with quadrupeds the plain,