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bleak and stormy shore。 Oh doubting heart！ Far over purple seas； They
wait； in sunny ease； The balmy southern breeze； To bring them to their
northern homes once more。
Why must the flowers die？ Prisoned they lie In the cold tomb； heedless
of tears or rain。 Oh doubting heart！ They only sleep below The soft white
ermine snow； While winter winds shall blow； To breathe and smile upon
you soon again。
The sun has hid its rays These many days； Will dreary hours never
leave the earth？ Oh doubting heart！ The stormy clouds on high Veil the
same sunny sky； That soon （for spring is nigh） Shall wake the summer into
golden mirth。
Fair hope is dead； and light Is quenched in night。 What sound can
break the silence of despair？ Oh doubting heart！ Thy sky is overcast； Yet
stars shall rise at last； Brighter for darkness past； And angels' silver voices
stir the air。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： A STUDENT
Over an ancient scroll I bent； Steeping my soul in wise content； Nor
paused a moment； save to chide A low voice whispering at my side。
I wove beneath the stars' pale shine A dream； half human； half divine；
And shook off （not to break the charm） A little hand laid on my arm。
I read； until my heart would glow With the great deeds of long ago；
Nor heard； while with those mighty dead； Pass to and fro a faltering tread。
On the old theme I pondered long … The struggle between right and
wrong； I could not check such visions high； To soothe a little quivering
sigh。
I tried to solve the problemLife； Dreaming of that mysterious strife；
How could I leave such reasonings wise； To answer two blue pleading
eyes？
I strove how best to give； and when； My blood to save my fellow…men
… How could I turn aside； to look At snowdrops laid upon my book？
Now Time has fledthe world is strange； Something there is of pain
and change； My books lie closed upon the shelf； I miss the old heart in
myself。
I miss the sunbeams in my room … It was not always wrapped in gloom：
I miss my dreamsthey fade so fast； Or flit into some trivial past。
The great stream of the world goes by； None care； or heed； or question；
why I； the lone student； cannot raise My voice or hand as in old days。
No echo seems to wake again My heart to anything but pain； Save
when a dream of twilight brings The fluttering of an angel's wings！
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： A KNIGHT ERRANT
Though he lived and died among us； Yet his name may be enrolled
With the knights whose deeds of daring Ancient chronicles have told。
Still a stripling； he encountered Poverty； and struggled long； Gathering
force from every effort； Till he knew his arm was strong。
Then his heart and life he offered To his radiant mistressTruth； Never
thought； or dream； or faltering； Marred the promise of his youth。
So he rode forth to defend her； And her peerless worth proclaim；
Challenging each recreant doubter Who aspersed her spotless name。
First upon his path stood Ignorance； Hideous in his brutal might； Hard
the blows and long the battle Ere the monster took to flight。
Then； with light and fearless spirit； Prejudice he dared to brave；
Hunting back the lying craven To her black sulphureous cave。
Followed by his servile minions； Custom； the old Giant； rose； Yet he；
too； at last was conquered By the good Knight's weighty blows。
Then he turned； and； flushed with victory Struck upon the brazen
shield Of the world's great king； Opinion And defied him to the field。
Once again he rose a conqueror； And； though wounded in the fight；
With a dying smile of triumph Saw that Truth had gained her right。
On his failing ear re…echoing Came the shouting round her throne；
Little cared he that no future With her name would link his own。
Spent with many a hard…fought battle； Slowly ebbed his life away； And
the crowd that flocked to greet her Trampled on him where he lay。
Gathering all his strength； he saw her Crowned and reigning in her
pride！ Looked his last upon her beauty； Raised his eyes to God； and died。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： LINGER； OH；
GENTLE TIME
Linger； oh； gentle Time； Linger； oh； radiant grace of bright To…day！ Let
not the hours' chime Call thee away； But linger near me still with fond
delay。
Linger； for thou art mine！ What dearer treasures can the future hold？
What sweeter flowers than thine Can she unfold？ What secrets tell my
heart thou hast not told？
Oh； linger in thy flight！ For shadows gather round； and should we part；
A dreary starless night May fill my heart； … Then pause and linger yet ere
thou depart。
Linger； I ask no more； … Thou art enough for everthou alone； What
future can restore； When thou art flown； All that I hold from thee and call
my own？
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： HOMEWARD BOUND
I have seen a fiercer tempest； Known a louder whirlwind blow； I was
wrecked off red Algiers； Six…and…thirty years ago。 Young I was； and yet
old seamen Were not strong or calm as I； While life held such treasures for
me； I felt sure I could not die。
Life I struggled forand saved it； Life aloneand nothing more；
Bruised； half dead； alone and helpless； I was cast upon the shore。 I feared
the pitiless rocks of Ocean； So the great sea roseand then Cast me from
her friendly bosom； On the pitiless hearts of men。
Gaunt and dreary ran the mountains； With black gorges； up the land；
Up to where the lonely Desert Spreads her burning； dreary sand： In the
gorges of the mountains； On the plain beside the sea； Dwelt my stern and
cruel masters； The black Moors of Barbary。
Ten long years I toiled among them； Hopelessas I used to say； Now I
know Hope burnt within me Fiercer； stronger； day by day： Those dim
years of toil and sorrow Like one long dark dream appear； One long day of
weary waiting … Then each day was like a year。
How I cursed the landmy prison； How I cursed the serpent sea … And
the Demon Fate that showered All her curses upon me； I was mad； I think…
…God pardon Words so terrible and wild … This voyage would have been
my last one； For I left a wife and child。
Never did one tender vision Fade away before my sight； Never once
through all my slavery； Burning day or dreary night； In my soul it lived；
and kept me； Now I feel； from black despair； And my heart was not quite
broken； While they lived and blest me there。
When at night my task was over； I would hasten to the shore； （All was
strange and foreign inland； Nothing I had known before；） Strange looked
the bleak mountain passes； Strange the red glare and black shade； And the
Oleanders； waving To the sound the fountains made。
Then I gazed at the great Ocean； Till she grew a friend again； And
because she knew old England； I forgave her all my pain： So the blue still
sky above me； With its white clouds' fleecy fold； And the glimmering stars；
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
（though brighter；） Looked like home and days of old。
And a calm would fall upon me； Worn perhaps with work and pain；
The wild hungry longing left me； And I was myself again： Looking at the
silver waters； Looking up at the far sky； Dreams of home and all I left
there Floated sorrowfully by。
A fair face； but pale with sorrow； With blue eyes； brimful of tears； And
the little red mouth； quivering With a smile； to hide its fears； Holding out
her baby towards me；