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Their glory shall inherit and prolong？
THE FOUR PRINCESSES AT WILNA
A PHOTOGRAPH
Sweet faces； that from pictured casements lean
As from a castle window； looking down
On some gay pageant passing through a town；
Yourselves the fairest figures in the scene；
With what a gentle grace； with what serene
Unconsciousness ye wear the triple crown
Of youth and beauty and the fair renown
Of a great name； that ne'er hath tarnished been！
From your soft eyes； so innocent and sweet；
Four spirits； sweet and innocent as they；
Gaze on the world below； the sky above；
Hark！ there is some one singing in the street；
〃Faith； Hope； and Love！ these three；〃 he seems to say；
〃These three； and greatest of the three is Love。〃
HOLIDAYS
The holiest of all holidays are those
Kept by ourselves in silence and apart；
The secret anniversaries of the heart；
When the full river of feeling overflows；
The happy days unclouded to their close；
The sudden joys that out of darkness start
As flames from ashes； swift desires that dart
Like swallows singing down each wind that blows！
White as the gleam of a receding sail；
White as a cloud that floats and fades in air；
White as the whitest lily on a stream；
These tender memories are；a Fairy Tale
Of some enchanted land we know not where；
But lovely as a landscape in a dream。
WAPENTAKE
TO ALFRED TENNYSON
Poet！ I come to touch thy lance with mine；
Not as a knight； who on the listed field
Of tourney touched his adversary's shield
In token of defiance； but in sign
Of homage to the mastery； which is thine；
In English song； nor will I keep concealed；
And voiceless as a rivulet frost…congealed；
My admiration for thy verse divine。
Not of the howling dervishes of song；
Who craze the brain with their delirious dance；
Art thou； O sweet historian of the heart！
Therefore to thee the laurel…leaves belong；
To thee our love and our allegiance；
For thy allegiance to the poet's art。
THE BROKEN OAR
Once upon Iceland's solitary strand
A poet wandered with his book and pen；
Seeking some final word； some sweet Amen；
Wherewith to close the volume in his hand。
The billows rolled and plunged upon the sand；
The circling sea…gulls swept beyond his ken；
And from the parting cloud…rack now and then
Flashed the red sunset over sea and land。
Then by the billows at his feet was tossed
A broken oar； and carved thereon he read；
〃Oft was I weary； when I toiled at thee〃；
And like a man； who findeth what was lost；
He wrote the words； then lifted up his head；
And flung his useless pen into the sea。
THE CROSS OF SNOW
In the long； sleepless watches of the night；
A gentle facethe face of one long dead
Looks at me from the wall； where round its head
The night…lamp casts a halo of pale light。
Here in this room she died； and soul more white
Never through martyrdom of fire was led
To its repose； nor can in books be read
The legend of a life more benedight。
There is a mountain in the distant West
That； sun…defying； in its deep ravines
Displays a cross of snow upon its side。
Such is the cross I wear upon my breast
These eighteen years； through all the changing scenes
And seasons； changeless since the day she died。
**************
BIRDS OF PASSAGE
FLIGHT THE FOURTH
CHARLES SUMNER
Garlands upon his grave；
And flowers upon his hearse；
And to the tender heart and brave
The tribute of this verse。
His was the troubled life；
The conflict and the pain；
The grief； the bitterness of strife；
The honor without stain。
Like Winkelried； he took
Into his manly breast
The sheaf of hostile spears； and broke
A path for the oppressed。
Then from the fatal field
Upon a nation's heart
Borne like a warrior on his shield！
So should the brave depart。
Death takes us by surprise；
And stays our hurrying feet；
The great design unfinished lies；
Our lives are incomplete。
But in the dark unknown
Perfect their circles seem；
Even as a bridge's arch of stone
Is rounded in the stream。
Alike are life and death；
When life in death survives；
And the uninterrupted breath
Inspires a thousand lives。
Were a star quenched on high；
For ages would its light；
Still travelling downward from the sky；
Shine on our mortal sight。
So when a great man dies；
For years beyond our ken；
The light he leaves behind him lies
Upon the paths of men。
TRAVELS BY THE FIRESIDE
The ceaseless rain is falling fast；
And yonder gilded vane；
Immovable for three days past；
Points to the misty main；
It drives me in upon myself
And to the fireside gleams；
To pleasant books that crowd my shelf；
And still more pleasant dreams；
I read whatever bards have sung
Of lands beyond the sea；
And the bright days when I was young
Come thronging back to me。
In fancy I can hear again
The Alpine torrent's roar；
The mule…bells on the hills of Spain；
The sea at Elsinore。
I see the convent's gleaming wall
Rise from its groves of pine；
And towers of old cathedrals tall；
And castles by the Rhine。
I journey on by park and spire；
Beneath centennial trees；
Through fields with poppies all on fire；
And gleams of distant seas。
I fear no more the dust and heat；
No more I feel fatigue；
While journeying with another's feet
O'er many a lengthening league。
Let others traverse sea and land；
And toil through various climes；
I turn the world round with my hand
Reading these poets' rhymes。
From them I learn whatever lies
Beneath each changing zone；
And see； when looking with their eyes；
Better than with mine own。
CADENABBIA
LAKE OF COMO
No sound of wheels or hoof…beat breaks
The silence of the summer day；
As by the loveliest of all lakes
I while the idle hours away。
I pace the leafy colonnade
Where level branches of the plane
Above me weave a roof of shade
Impervious to the sun and rain。
At times a sudden rush of air
Flutters the lazy leaves o'erhead；
And gleams of sunshine toss and flare
Like torches down the path I tread。
By Somariva's garden gate
I make the marble stairs my seat；
And hear the water； as I wait；
Lapping the steps beneath my feet。
The undulation sinks and swells
Along the stony parapets；
And far away the floating bells
Tinkle upon the fisher's nets。
Silent and slow； by tower and town
The freighted barges come and go；
Their pendent shadows gliding down
By town and tower submerged below。
The hills sweep upward from the shore；
With villas scattered one by one
Upon their wooded spurs； and lowe