The Birch

ON THE WORCESTERSHIRE BEACON, GREAT MALVERN.

It stood alone on the green hill side, That fairy birchen tree, Its yellow leaves in the autumn breeze Were flutt'ring heavily.

The early frosts brought those pale leaves down, Ere the storms of winter came; And stripp'd and bare stood my birchen tree, But a wreck to tell its name.

I pass'd the place when the streams were still, When the earth was chang'd to stone, On the leafless boughs a hoary show'r, As a spell of heav'n was thrown.

The glistening sprays by the wind were stirr'd, Like a banner gently furl'd; It seem'd, in its pure and peerless grace, A gift from another world.

And even thus in our inner life, When the early frosts are come, When the greenness has pass'd from life away, And the music of earth is dumb;

'Tis then that the light and hope of heav'n, O'er the lonely heart are flung, And our spirit knows a holier joy Than that to which erst it clung.

And year by year is the type renew'd, That our wayward hearts may learn, There is peace for the stripp'd and wearied ones, Who in faith to their Father turn.

1841.

ASTROLOGY.

'Tis said that in the burning stars The fate of man is writ: Yet quail not, Christian, at the sign; By LOVE those lamps are lit.

1848.

THE FIRST REVELATION.

Suggested by the story of a child, whose father, an educated man, but an infidel, if not an atheist, had not allowed him to receive any religious culture. Being one day reproved by a friend for using profane language, on the ground that it was displeasing to GOD, he enquired who was meant. He instantly apprehended with delight all that was told him of the nature and attributes of the Supreme Being, as if the idea had been latent in his mind, until thus called forth into recognised existence.

Shadows o'er the infant mind, Floating dimly undefin'd Like a picture scarce design'd.

Melody but half express'd, Inarticulate at best, Haunting ever that young breast.

But the magic word is spoken, And the shades of night are broken, And by that same lustrous token.

"GOD THE MIGHTY ONE," now near, Memnon music on the ear Falls articulate and clear.

And the day of life begun By the newly risen sun, In that light its paths are run.

Even so, when GOD reveal'd To the eye by Death unseal'd, Shall completed being yield,

Will the shadows which now lie, As dim portents to the eye, From the spirit's vision fly.

And the mystic sounds and sweet, Which the untaught ear oft greet, Shall a lucid tale repeat.

And mysterious spirit-life-- Past its agony and strife-- Be with seven-fold Glory rife.

1848.

AN EVENING HYMN.

Faint falls the twilight dim, Woods, waves, their ev'ning hymn Murmur to Thee. One pale star ocean seeks, One waveless glimmer breaks O'er that lone sea.

Softly the passing gale, Sighs like love's parting tale, Whispers not words. Clouds come not o'er that night, Stars burn with purer light Than earth affords.

Come, Night, around this breast, Thy soothing dreamy rest Waft o'er my soul; While thoughts of heav'nly birth, Untouch'd by aught of earth, Undimm'd may roll.--

Then like yon star may we Meet death's calm silent sea, Setting to rise. Bright'ning still while we sink, On that dread ocean brink, To other skies!

THE DUKE OF MANTUA.

A Tragedy.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE.