"SO JOY AFTER JOY MAY GO SWEEPING OVER THE ANCIENT PAIN-(GEORGE MACDONALD) SIR LARK AND KING SUN: A PARABLE. JOOD morrow, my lord!" in the sky alone, BREAKS COMMON LIFE ASUNDER."-GEORGE MACDONALD. 279 DROWNED IN WAVES AND WAVES OF WEEPING, IT WILL RISE AGAIN."-GEORGE MACDONALD. "THE TONGUES OF WHISPERING TREES TO HEAR, THE SERMON OF THE SILENT STONE; ["To catch the first shine of your golden hair."] "Must I thank you then," said the king, "Sir Lark, For flying so high and hating the dark? You ask a full cup for half a thirst: Half was love of me, and half love to be first. SHOWS PRINTS OF SAVING FEET, BOTH OLD AND NEW."-G. MACDONALD. GOD, IN THE DREARIEST PATHS THAT MEN HAVE TROD,- MACDONALD) TO READ IN BROOKS THE LESSON DEAR OF NATURE WORKING ALL ALONE."-MACDONALD. FINDS MORE IN ANY HUMAN FACE, BECLOUDED ALL WITH WRONG AND DOUBT,-GEORGE MACDONALD) "HE WHOSE HEART IS FULL OF GRACE SIR LARK AND KING SUN: A PARABLE. There's many a bird makes no such haste, And King Sun hid his head in a turban of cloud, And Sir Lark stopped singing, quite vexed and cowed; But he flew up higher, and thought, Anon The wrath of the king will be over and gone; So he flew with the strength of a lark he flew ; His wings had had no chrism of gold; Did I say alone? Ah, no such thing! "Welcome, Sir Lark! You look tired," said he ; 66 While you have been singing so high and away, He had set his crown all about the nest, And out of the midst shone her little brown breast: And so glorious was she in russet gold, That for wonder and awe Sir Lark grew cold. TO BROTHERS, SISTERS, ROUND ABOUT, 281 THAN SHINES IN NATURE'S HOLIEST PLACE, WHERE MOUNTAINS DWELL AND STREAMS RUN OUT."-MACDONALD. "FOR VIRTUOUS ACTS AND HARMLESS JOYS THE MINUTES WILL NOT STAY."-DR. CHARLES MACKAY. 282 IF WRONG YOU DO, IN SUMMER AMONG the flowers,-(MACKAY) DR. CHARLES MACKAY. He popped his head under her wing, and lay As still as a stone, till King Sun was away. [The foregoing extracts are from "The Disciple, and Other Poems," published in 1867.] Dr. Charles Mackay. in [CHARLES MACKAY, a lyrist of no common power, and a poet of considerable fertility of fancy and a wide and varied range of musical expression, was born at Perth in 1814. He published a small volume of poems 1834, which led to his engagement on the Morning Chronicle, then a newspaper of great influence and popularity. In 1840 appeared his "Hope of the World," followed by the airy and graceful Rosicrucian romance of "The Salamandrine" in 1842. From 1844 to 1847 Dr. Mackay (he received the distinction of LL.D. from the University of Glasgow) edited the Glasgow Argus; after which, returning to London, he contributed leading articles to the Illustrated London News for a period of years. He has also acted as special correspondent for the Times. His principal works, in addition to those already mentioned, are:-"Legends of the Isles, and Other Poems" (1845); "Voices from the Mountains" (1846); "Town Lyrics" (1847); "Egeria" (1850); "The Lump of Gold" (1855); "Under Green Leaves" (1857); "A Man's Heart" (1860); "Studies from the Antique" (1864); and the prose works of "The Thames and its Tributaries" (1840); and "Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions."] "O PIETY, O HEAVENLY PIETY! SHE IS NOT RIGID AS A FANATIC'S DREAM."-DR. CHARLES MACKAY. LOUISE ON THE DOOR-STEP. And no one in the street But me, on the sheltering door-step Watching the rain-drops patter And dance where the puddles run, As dew-drops in the sun. YOU MUST ATONE IN WINTER AMONG THE SHOWERS."-MACKAY. "BUT YET THE WORLD GOES ROUND AND ROUND, AND THE GENIAL SEASONS RUN; 66 WHAT MIGHT BE DONE IF MEN WERE WISE,—(MACKAY) LOUISE ON THE DOOR-STEP. 283 There's a light upon the pavement It shines like a magic glass, That look at me and pass. When my garb was as light as lilies, Faces! ah, yes! I see them- One of them frowns ;-I know him, They pass, they melt in the ripples, That follows where'er I turn The face of a false deceiver That lives and lies; ah, me! Though I see it in the pavement, AND CEASED THEIR SCORN FOR ONE ANOTHER!"-MACKAY. AND EVER THE TRUTH COMES UPPERMOST, AND EVER IS JUSTICE DONE."-MACKAY. |