TIME.

LIKE as one, erewhile pursuing, Shouts him o'er his captured foe,

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Spite of all thy fleetest doing,

Now, thou Slave! behind me go."

So doth Time, austere transmuter, Following, following, fast and fast, Lay strong hand on forward Future; Then consigns him to the Past.

MEMENTO VIVERE.

WHEN life was young, in pensive guise

To

I made it a fantastic glory,

pause and sentimentalize

O'er every sad "Memento Mori."

Dear fourscore friend! in their dull place
How gladlier now I turn to thee,
With all thy cheery wit and grace,

Thou bright "Memento Vivere."

AGE.

FULL oft you're plaining that in

Our faculties and feelings die.

age

And it may be that thinkers sage
Do think like you. Yet plain not I.

When sick we've grown of pride and show, Why should our striving strength live on? Or why should love forbear to go,

When all we cared to love -are gone?

GOSSIP.

GOSSIP right and left you're strowing, Never heeding what you do;

Tho' each idle word you're sowing Friend and neighbour long may rue.

When we marked you lately loosing

Stone from yonder green hill's side,

You but in your sport were choosing Swift adown to see it glide.

You look'd pale tho', when in fury,
Like a mad thing just releas'd,

Threatening work for judge and jury,

Wild it whirred o'er man and beast.

Think then, Chatterer! 'mid your doing,

If for others nought you rue,

How the very seed you're strewing

May spring up-ill seed for you.

Yon maim'd traveller, you behold him,
Smitten sore by avalanche;

Wiser heads in vain had told him

On to move, in silence staunch.

Now his own sad cup he's drinking;
Word of his provoked the fall,

Which so lamed; and left him thinking

How that word was cause of all.