VERSES OLD AND NEW.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 846, 18 June 1910, Page 9

VERSES OLD AND NEW.

THE SONGS. . The _ shields and 'the spears together rang,— So the queen sang. ; . Uy name leaped from hie' lipa when'.lie - sprang. • Oat of the turmoil his bright' sword • gleahied,— So the queen dreamed. • Cried, the wind in the queen's car, — *■ . ■ Not thou his deaT. •For young Yolaude he bore hi.s spear. But tiro grinds of the night, they weave his shroud„ Then the queen laughed aloud. »—Ethel Talbot, in the' "Westminster ; Gazette." NANCY.' Not softer clouds shade evening skies Than. deepen'in her shining eyes; Nor than her laugh at me' Is morning sunlight on the sea! Like mountain air 'mid dewy grass ■ The musings of my little lass! — -With her my dusty thoughts regain • Greenness like leaves in tender, rain. t . Ah yes, you smile! But I confess • I simply dare not lovo her less, V/' Or 6oarn heaven's well-inverted plan !T.hat makes the child protect the man. Sin, 6trong as boa's living snare, Glides past, surprised to find her there. ' Jlie stealthy-ills that sock my breath •vraw hers in mino, and feel it death. . put if I .gravely stoop to idss That little mischief-loviaig miss, She scampers off, with teasing.spite, And furtive glances of delight! j —"Spectator.": . NAPOLEON. Soara etill thy spirit, Child of "Fire? - Uost hea-r the camps of Europe hum? On eagle wings, dost hover higher, . At the far rolling of the., drum? ' To 6ee the harvest thou hast sown Bmilest thou now, Napoleon? . £>ong .had the world in blinded mirth! 'Or suffering patienco dreamed content, "When lo! like thunder over- earth, Thy challenge peeled, the skies were rent j Th.v terrible youth rose up alone Against the old world on 'its throne. With Shuddering then the people gazetL Atd such" a stupor bound them dumb ■ ( A 6 those fierce Colchian ranks amazed . Who saw the youthful Jason come,. . • And challenging the War God's uarno • Step forth, his fiery yoke to tame. , He took those dread bulls by tlie horn,Harnessed then* fury to his will, And in the furrow swiftly torn The dragon's teeth abroad aid spill, v . When lo! behind his trampling heel The furrow flowered into eteel! i • ' —L. Binyon. HAD I BUT KNOWN! ' (From the French of Hegesippe Moreau.) , ; Ead I bnt 'known, when'day, b} r day,. Thy childish ardour urging, on; ' ; That thou wert' soon to fade away, Books, slate.and maps aside I'd thrown. Had I but known! •With butterfly and bird and flower '' Bright as their little lives, thy owp, By .thee,, each-jradiant summer hour' Mid woodland , glories should have flown. • ' • , Had I but known!. And. when December, gustful, made - Through snow-tipped boughs a dreary moan, Mid piled-up toys thou shouldst have played, A fairy prince upon his throne. ;'• ••• Had I but;known! ' '• " ; Fictive,. alas! thy early bloom; " For seven short years- in promise -grown,'—. . Then wert thou summoned to the tomb, ' And nowXsit and'sigh alone. . _ Had I but known! •-M.T3.E., in the "Westminster Gazette."