10

One word, ere yet the evening ends:
Let's close it with a parting rhyme,
And pledge a hand to all young friends,
As fits the merry Christmas time;
On life's wide scene you, too, have parts,
That fate ere long shall bid you play;
Good-night! - with honest gentle hearts 15
A kindly greeting go alway!

Good-night! I'd say the griefs, the joys,
Just hinted in this mimic page,

The triumphs and defeats of boys,
Are but repeated in our age;

20

I'd say your woes were not less keen,
Your hopes more vain, than those of men,
Your pangs or pleasures of fifteen
At forty-five played o'er again.

5

ΙΟ

As erst at twelve in corduroys, And if, in time of sacred youth,

We learned at home to love and pray, 35 Pray heaven that early love and truth May never wholly pass away.

And in the world, as in the school,

15

20

Or hunger hopeless at the gate. Who bade the mud from Dives' wheel To spurn the rags of Lazarus? Come, brother, in that dust we'll kneel, 55 Confessing heaven that ruled it thus.

So each shall mourn, in life's advance,

Dear hopes, dear friends, untimely killed, Shall grieve for many a forfeit chance, And longing passion unfulfilled. Amen! - whatever fate be sent,

Pray God the heart may kindly glow, Although the head with cares be bent, And whitened with the winter snow.

60

But O blithe breeze; and O great seas, Though ne'er, that earliest parting past, On your wide plain they join again, Together lead them home at last.

One port, methought, alike they sought, 25
One purpose hold where'er they fare,—
O bounding breeze, O rushing seas!
At last, at last, unite them there!

A gentleman, or old or young!

(Bear kindly with my humble lays;) The sacred chorus first was sung Upon the first of Christmas days; The shepherds heard it overhead The joyful angels raised it then: Glory to heaven on high, it said,

(1849)

75

WHITHER DEPART THE BRAVE

My song, save this, is little worth; I lay the weary pen aside,

And peace on earth to gentle men!

As fits the holy Christmas birth,

And wish you health, and love, and mirth, As fits the solemn Christmas-tide.

Be this, good friends, our carol still: Be peace on earth, be peace on earth, To men of gentle will.

(1848)

ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH
(1819-1861)

QUA CURSUM VENTUS

As ships, becalmed at eve, that lay
With canvas drooping, side by side,
Two towers of sail at dawn of day

Are scarce long leagues apart descried;

To say we truly feel the pain,
And quite are sinking with the strain;
Entirely, simply, undeceived,

Believe, and say we ne'er believed
The object, e'en were it achieved,
A thing we e'er had cared to keep;
With heart and soul to hold it cheap,
And then to go and try it again;
O false, unwise, absurd, and vain!
O, 't is not joy, and 't is not bliss,
Only it is precisely this

That keeps us still alive.

(1869)

10

15

20

Her rounded form was lean,

And her silk was bombazine;

Well I wot