Winter giveth the fields and the trees so old And the rain it raineth so fast and cold, We must cover over the embers low; And, snugly housed from the wind and weather, Winter maketh the sun in the gloomy sky Wrap him 'round with a mantle of cloud; When thy merry step draws near! Translation by H. W. LONGFELLOW. CHARLES, DUKE OF ORLEANS, 1891-1467. WOODS IN WINTER. When winter winds are piercing chill, And through the hawthorn blows the gale, With solemn feet I tread the hill That overbrows the lonely vale. O'er the bare upland, and away Through the long reach of desert woods, Where, twisted round the barren oak, Where from their frozen urns, mute springs Pour out the river's gradual tide, Shrilly the skater's iron rings, And voices fill the woodland side. Alas! how changed from the fair scene, But still wild music is abroad, Pale, desert woods! within your crowd; And gathering winds in hoarse accord Amid the vocal reeds pipe loud. Chill airs, and wintry winds! my ear I listen, and it cheers me long. H. W. LONGFELLOW. WINTER. Sad soul-dear heart, O why repine? The leaves of spring, the summer flowers The sweet and silver-sandaled Dew, Some buds there were sad hearts, be still! And some must blight where many bloom; But, blight or bloom, the fruit must fall! Why sigh for spring or summer flowers, Since winter gathers all? He gathers all-but chide him not; He wraps them in his mantle cold, And folds them close, as best he can, For he is blind and old. Sad soul-dear heart, no more repine- The spring shall bring again. T. B. READ. XXVIII. Medley. FRAGMENT FROM THE GREEK OF ARISTOTLE. F there were beings who lived in the depths of the earth, in dwell lings adorned with statues and paintings, and every thing which is possessed in rich abundance by those whom we esteem fortunate; and if these beings could receive tidings of the power and might of the gods. and could then emerge from their hidden dwellings through the open fissures of the earth, to the places which we inhabit; if they could suddenly behold the earth, and the sea, and the vault of heaven; could recognize the expanse of the cloudy firmament, and the might of the winds of heaven, and admire the sun in its majesty, beauty, and radiant effulgence; and, lastly, when night vailed the earth in darkness. they could behold the starry heavens, the changing moon, and the stars rising and setting in the unvarying course ordained from eternity, they would surely exclaim, "There are gods, and such great things must be the work of their hands." Translation from HUMBOLDT's "Cosmos." THE CREATION OF THE EARTH. God said, Be gather'd now, ye waters under heav'n, And saw that it was good, and said, Let th' earth He scarce had said, when the bare earth, till then And bush with frizzled hair implicit : last Rose, as in dance, the stately trees, and spread Their branches hung with copious fruit, or gemm'd Their blossoms: with high wood the hills were crown'd; With tufts the valleys and each fountain side, With borders 'long the rivers: that earth now Seem'd like to heav'n, a seat where Gods might dwell Or wander with delight, and love to haunt Her sacred shades. EARTH. JOHN MILTON, 1608-1674. Harp lift thy voice on high, And run in rapid numbers o'er the face Of thousand cherubims had been shorn off, And on the temples hung of morn and even; And there were moons, and stars, and darkness streaked And there were seasons coming evermore, And going still-all fair and always new, Gay, festive bowers, and palaces in dust; And winding valleys, roofed with pendent shade; The breath of Ocean, sleeping on his waves. Sounds, sights, smells, tastes; the heaven and earth, profuse For not to use alone did Providence |