There came an eve of festal hours- But one, a lone one, midst the throng, And slowly, sadly, moved his plumes, To him, to him, its rustling spoke, His mother's cabin home, that lay Oh! scorn him not the strength, whereby THE MEETING OF THE BROTHERS. The voices of two forest boys, In years when hearts entwine, A valley of the Rhine. The sunny laughter of their eyes There had each vineyard seen; Up every cliff whence eagles rise, Their bounding step had been ; As early bloom or dew ;- That wears the enduring hue ! For now on manhood's verge they stood, And heard life's thrilling call, To some high festival; T'hey parted-soon the paths divide Wherein our steps were one, Like river-branches, far and wide Dissevering as they run, And making strangers in their course Of waves that had the same bright source. Met they no more ?-once more they met, Those kindred hearts and true ! 'Twas on a field of death, where yet The battle-thunders flew, Though the fierce day was well-nigh past, And the red sunset smiled its last. But as the combat closed, they found For tender thoughts a space, And ev'n upon that bloody ground Room for one brief embrace, And pour d forth on each other's neock Such tears as warriors need not check. The mists o'er boyhood's memory spreat All melted with those tears Rose as in vanish'd years : Oh! was it then a time to die? It was !--that not in vain The soul of childhood's purity And peace might turn again. A ball swept forth—'twas guided wellHeart unto heart those brothers fell. Happy, yes, happy thus they go ! Bearing from earth away Affections, gifted ne'er to know A shadow- decay, A passing touch of change or chill, A breath of aught whose breath can kill. And they, between whose sever'd souls, Once in close union tied, A gulf is set, a current rolls For ever to divide,Well may they envy such a lot, Whose hearts yearn on—but mingle not. FINIR. |