POETRY FOR REPETITION. 1. THE INCHCAPE ROCK. The ship was as still as she could be; Without either sign or sound of their shock, The Abbot of Aberbrothok Had placed that bell on the Inchcape Rock; When the rock was hid by the surge's swell, B The sun in heaven was shining gay, The sea-birds scream'd as they wheel'd round, The buoy of the Inchcape Bell was seen He felt the cheering power of spring, His eye was on the Inchcape float: The boat is lower'd, the boatmen row, And he cut the bell from the Inchcape float. Down sunk the bell with a gurgling sound, The bubbles rose and burst around; Quoth Sir Ralph, "The next who comes to the Rock Won't bless the Abbot of Aberbrothok." Sir Ralph the Rover sail'd away, He scour'd the seas for many a day; And now grown rich with plunder'd store, So thick a haze o'erspreads the sky, On the deck the Rover takes his stand, Quoth Sir Ralph, "It will be lighter soon, "Canst hear," said one, But I wish I could hear the Inchcape Bell." They hear no sound, the swell is strong; Sir Ralph the Rover tore his hair, And the ship sinks down beneath the tide. 2. THE FIRST GRIEF. OHI call my brother back to me! The summer comes with flower and bee; SOUTHEY "The butterfly is glancing bright I care not now to chase its flight — "The flowers run wild,—the flowers we sowed Around our garden tree; Our vine is drooping with its load Oh! call him back to me!" "He would not hear thy voice, fair child- The face that once like spring-time smiled "A rose's brief bright life of joy, "And has he left his birds and flowers? And thro' the long, long summer hours, "And by the brook and in the glade MRS. HEMANS. |