Ye whose relics rest around, Long, through evil and through good, Of peace, in battle twice achieved; And Europe from the yoke reliev'd, One who reverently, for thee, THE HOLLY TREE. I. O Reader! hast thou ever stood to see The Holly Tree? The eye that contemplates it well perceives Its glossy leaves Order'd by an intelligence so wise, As might confound the Atheist's sophistries. 2. Below, a circling fence, its leaves are seen No grazing cattle through their prickly round But as they grow where nothing is to fear, 3. I love to view these things with curious eyes, And in this wisdom of the Holly Tree Can emblems see Wherewith perchance to make a pleasant rhyme, One which may profit in the after time. 4. Thus, though abroad perchance I might appear Harsh and austere, To those who on my leisure would intrude Reserved and rude, Gentle at home amid my friends I'd be 5. And should my youth, as youth is apt I know, Some harshness show, All vain asperities I day by day Would wear away, Till the smooth temper of my age should be 6. And as when all the summer trees are seen The Holly leaves a sober hue display Less bright than they, But when the bare and wintry woods we see, What then so cheerful as the Holly Tree? 7. So serious should my youth appear among So would I seem amid the young and gay That in my age as cheerful I might be THE BATTLE OF BLENHEIM, I. It was a summer evening, Old Kaspar's work was done, And by him sported on the green 2. She saw her brother Peterkin Roll something large and round, In playing there had found; He came to ask what he had found, 3. Old Kaspar took it from the boy, Who stood expectant by; And then the old man shook his head, And with a natural sigh, "Tis some poor fellow's skull,' said he, 'Who fell in the great victory. 4. 'I find them in the garden, For there's many here about; The ploughshare turns them out! 5. 'Now tell us what 't was all about,' 'Now tell us all about the war, And what they fought each other for.' 6. It was the English,' Kaspar cried, 'Who put the French to rout; But what they fought each other for, I could not well make out; But every body said,' quoth he, 'That 't was a famous victory. 7. 'My father lived at Blenheim then, Yon little stream hard by ; They burnt his dwelling to the ground, So with his wife and child he fled, 8. 'With fire and sword the country round Was wasted far and wide, And many a childing mother then, And new-born baby died; But things like that, you know, must be At every famous victory. 9. 'They say it was a shocking sight After the field was won ; For many thousand bodies here Lay rotting in the sun; But things like that, you know, must be After a famous victory. IO. 'Great praise the Duke of Marlbro' won, And our good Prince Eugene.' 'Why 't was a very wicked thing!' Said little Wilhelmine. 'Nay.. nay. . my little girl,' quoth he. 'It was a famous victory. II. 'And everybody praised the Duke 'Why that I cannot tell,' said he, STANZAS WRITTEN IN HIS LIBRARY. I. My days among the Dead are past; Where'er these casual eyes are cast, My never failing friends are they, 2. With them I take delight in weal, My cheeks have often been bedew'd |