66 TIME. 'HY sitt'st thou by that ruined hall, Thou aged carle, so stern and grey? Dost thou its former pride recall, Or ponder how it passed away?" "Know'st thou not me?" the Deep Voice cried, "So long enjoyed, so oft misused; Alternate, in thy fickle pride, Desired, neglected, and accused. "Before my breath, like blazing flax Man and his marvels pass away; And changing empires wane and wax, "Redeem mine hours,-the space is brief,- When Time and thou shalt part for ever." (Scott.) TOM BOWLING. ERE, a sheer hulk, lies poor Tom The darling of our crew ; No more he'll hear the tempest howling, His form was of the manliest beauty, Faithful, below he did his duty, But now he's gone aloft. * * * Yet shall poor Tom find pleasant weather, When He who all commands Shall give, to call Life's crew together, The word to pipe all hands. Thus Death, who kings and tars despatches, In vain Tom's life has doffed, For though his body's under hatches His soul has gone aloft. (Dibdin.) THE VOYAGE OF LIFE. VOYAGE at sea and all its strife, At every point resembles life,— Hard work for little gain. The anchor's weighed, smooth is the flood, But soon, alas! comes on the scud Aloft, alow, afloat, aground, Let but the smiling grog go round, And storms are heard no more. The voyage through life is various found, The wind is seldom fair, Though to the straits of pleasure bound, R Impervious dangers we explore; A lowering storm from envy brewing Clings round his neck or climbs his knees,- ease, And storms are heard no more. The ship towers gaily on the main, To fight in country's cause, And bid the obedient world maintain Its honours and its laws; Nor from surrounding danger shrinks Death dealing round, she nobly sinks, And so the man,-his ample measure Filled with alternate pain and pleasure; Till, long in age and honour living, While gasping nature pants and dies, (Dibdin.) |