THE DEATH OF ELLA. On Ella's cheek the rose was seen, But soon the storm began to lower, Anon. THE LAST MAN. All worldly shapes shall melt in gloom, The sun himself must die, Before this mortal shall assume Its immortality! Adown the gulf of time! As Adam saw her prime ! The sun's eye had a sickly glare, The earth with age was wan, The skeletons of nations were Around that lonely man! Some had expired in fight,—the brands Still rusted in their bony hands ; In plague and famine some ! Earth's cities bad no sound nor tread'; And ships were drifting with the dead To shores where all was dumb ! Yet, prophet like, that lone one stood, With dauntless words and high, That shook the sere leaves from the wood As if a storm passed by, Saying, we are twins in death, proud sun, Thy face is cold, thy race is run, 'Tis mercy bids thee go; For thou ten thousand thousand years Hast seen the tide of human tears, That shall no longer flow, What though beneath thee man put forth His pomp, his pride, his skill ; The vassals of his will ;- For all those trophied arts Entailed on human hearts. Go, let oblivion's curtain fall Upon the stage of men, Life's tragedy again. Its piteous pageants bring not back, Of pain anew to writhe; Like grass beneath the scythe, Even I am weary in skies To watch thy fading fire ; Test of all sumless agonies, Behold not me expire. My lips that speak thy dirge of deathTheir rounded gasp and gurgling breath To see thou shalt not boast. The eclipse of nature spreads my pall, The majesty of darkness shall Receive my parting ghost. The spirit shall return to him That gave its heavenly spark; When thou thyself art dark ! By him recalled to breath, Who robbed the grave of victory, And took the sting from death! Go, Sun, while mercy holds me up On nature's awful waste, Of grief that man shall taste- On earth's sepulchral clod, Or shake his trust in God ! Campbell THE BROKEN HEART. of thine eye; Ah! little I thought, when with thrilling delight, gaze That so soon thou would'st fade like a dream from our sight, Heart-broken, to linger and die. 'Twas mournful to sit by thy pillow and mark The paleness that dwelt on thy cheek ; |