THE MIRAGE. A FRAGMENT. FAR o'er Sahara's waste the pilgrim's eye But far or near, to soothe his anguish keen, A lucid lake across th' horizon rolled. 66 "Sweet hope!" he cries; begone, despairing thought! How kind the toil this matchless hour that brought ! There, from the basin of some crystal pool, These parching lips shall sip the liquid cool; My sandals loosed, these wayworn feet shall lave H Ye'll soon be there, my trembling steps," he cries; "Yet, oh! how distance mocks these aching eyes! How want deceives! What giddy languor dim Sickens my soul, and makes my senses swim.” Borne onward still by false excitement wild, Reels on his tortured way the desert child; With gaze transfixed, that swims but wavers not, Turned on his all of hope-that watery spot:Unequal combat! but at length contentIts cruel rage to taunt his misery spent The misty lake, unwilling yet to stay Its fearful work accomplished, fades away; His childhood's dread, the false mirage he knows, Thinks on the unreached shrine, forgets his woes,— In one long-holden, unattended breath Pours forth his soul, and shuts his eyes in death! THE STORMY PETREL. THE tempest blast, careering wild, Yet mark yon Ocean's storm-nursed child So sports o'er Time's tempestuous sea, When torn by winds of care, Some young affection fond and free That has been nurtured there. THE SECRET OF CONTENT. THERE are in this our earthly sphere For more unpleasing scenes prepare, And there is many a lowly cot Where envy's voice has sounded not, Or fierce ambition's brand severe Lit all most sacred and most dear; To raise before a selfish world A flame, whose last mad column, hurled High as the rapid meteor's flame, Sinks into nothingness or shame, The ember-smoke of earthly fame. How dear is such a cottage home! There never hard misfortunes come, Save such as chasten hopes too wild For Nature's loved but humble child; And teach th' untutored rustic's mind How sorrow's self to him is kind. In some secluded hamlet, seen Deep in the woodland valley green, The early, wayward flower to tend, The sprig new sprouting timely bend; To fit the growing mind to bear Harsh storms of trouble and of care; |