Not for itself but for a nobler end
Th' Eternal gave it, and that end is virtue.
When inconsistent with the greater good,
Reason commands to cast the less away;
Thus life, with loss of wealth, is well preserved,
And virtue cheaply saved with loss of life.
HYMN FOR THE BLIND.
OH! thou, whose garment is the light,
Whose throne the vaulted sky,
Who spread the curtains of the night,
And hung the stars on high:
Thou, at whose word Creation rose,
In all its bright array;
Though for our eyes no radiance glows,
No living waters play;
We waft the music of our hearts
In gratitude to thee;
For all the beams thy love imparts
Our minds can clearly see!
We see thee in thy sacred truth,
In inspiration told;
We see thy hand direct our youth,
And lead us weak and old.
We see thee on our mental eye
The light of science pour,
And for such blessings humbly try
To worship and adore.
Oh! Father, hear our feeble hymn-
Behold us while we pray-
And pierce these helpless orbs, so dim,
With thy celestial ray!
In thee alone, my brightest, fairest, best!
My wandering heart seeks refuge like the dove;
Bearing the olive branch of peace and love,
To find sweet shelter in its ark of rest;
My flight has been wide o'er the angry wave,
Nor bower nor tree nor mantling wine was there;
But, like rich pearls deep in some ocean cave,
Were hidden all things beautiful and fair.
Send me not forth again! though the blue sky
Smile o'er the emerald garniture of Earth,
Leaves, buds and roses spring once more to birth,
And on the air float songs of melody;
Still to its resting-place, that dove would flee-
Angel of beauty, shall it dwell with thee?
ROMANCE OF CID RAMON.
I REMEMBER thee, Granada!
Cid Ramon spurr'd his good steed fast,
His thousand score were near;
And from Sevilla's walls aghast,
The watchmen fled with fear:
For Afric's Emir lay around,
The town was leaguer'd sore,
And king Mohammed wept with shame
To be a king no more.
I remember thee, Granada!
The Emir's powers were round and nigh,
Like locusts on the sward;
And when Cid Ramon spurr'd his steed,
They struck him fast and hard.
"But," quoth the Cid," a knight am I,
With crucifix and spear;.
And for Mohammed ride I on,
And for his daughter dear."-
I remember thee, Granada!
"Cheer up, dark king, and wail no more, Let tears no longer flow;
Of Christian men a thousand score
Have I to smite thy foe.
The king Alfonso greets thee well:
Kiss thou the cross, and pray;
And ere thou say'st the Ave o'er,
The Emir I will slay."
I remember thee, Granada!
"Or let the African be slain,
Or let the Emir slay,
I will not kiss the cross of Christ,
Nor to his Mother pray.
A camel-driver will I live,
With Yussef for my lord,
Or ere I kiss the Christian's cross,
To win the Christian's sword."
I remember thee, Granada!
"Mohammed, now thou griev'st me muchAlfonso is my king:
But let Suleya kiss the cross,
And let her wear the ring.
The crucifix the bride shall bear,
Her lord shall couch the spear;
And still I'll smite thy foe for thee,
And for thy daughter dear."
I remember thee, Granada!
Then up Suleya rose, and spoke,—
"I love Cid Ramon well;
But not to win his heart or sword,
Will I my faith compel.
With Yussef, cruel though he be,
A bond-maid will I rove,
Or ere I kiss the Christian's cross,
To win the Christian's love."
I remember thee, Granada!
Suleya! now thou grievest me much-
A thousand score have I;
But, saving for a Christian's life,
They dare not strike or die.
Alfonso is my king, and thus
Commands my king to me:
But, for that Christian, all shall strike,
If my true love she be."
I remember thee, Granada!
"Ill loves the love, who, ere he loves,
Demands a sacrifice:
Who serves myself, must serve my sire,
And serve without a price.
Let Yussef come with sword and spear,
To fetter and to rend;
I choose me yet a Moorish foe
Before a Christian friend!"—
I remember thee, Granada!
"Ill loves the love, who pins his love Upon a point of creed;
And balances in selfish doubt,
At such a time of need.
His heart is loosed, his hands untied,
And he shall yet be free
To wear the cross, and break the ring,
Who will not die for me!"
I remember thee, Granada!
The Emir's cry went up to heaven:
Cid Ramon rode away-
"Ye may not fight, my thousand score,
For Christian friend to-day.
But tell the king, I bide his hest,
Albeit my heart be sore;
Of all his troops, I give but one
To perish for the Moor."
I remember thee, Granada!
The Emir's cry went up to heaven;
His howling hosts came on;
Down fell Sevilla's tottering walls,—
The thousand score were gone.
And at the palace-gate, in blood,
The Arab Emir raves;
He sat upon Mohammed's throne,
And look'd upon his slaves.
I remember thee, Granada!
"The lives of all that faithful be,
This good day, will I spare;
But woe betide or kings or boors,
That currish Christians are!".
Up rode Cid Ramon bleeding fast;
The princess wept to see ;-
"No cross was kiss'd, no prayer was said,
But still I die for thee!"
I remember thee, Granada!
The Moorish maid she kiss'd the cross,
She knelt upon her knee;-
"I kiss the cross, I say the prayer,
Because thou diest for me.
To buy thy thousand score of swords,
I would not give my faith;
But now I take the good cross up,
To follow thee in death."
I remember thee, Granada!
"Holy Maria! Come to us,
And take us to the blest;
In the true blood of love and faith,
Receive us to thy rest!"-
The Emir struck in bitter wrath,
Sharp fell the Arab blade;
And Mary took the Cid to heaven,
And bless'd the Christian maid.
I remember thee, Granada!
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