The Hundred Best English Poems Part 2

n.o.bly, n.o.bly Cape Saint Vincent to the North-west died away; Sunset ran, one glorious blood-red, reeking into Cadiz Bay; Bluish 'mid the burning water, full in face Trafalgar lay; In the dimmest North-east distance dawned Gibraltar grand and grey; "Here and here did England help me: how can I help England?"--say, Whoso turns as I, this evening, turn to G.o.d to praise and pray, While Jove's planet rises yonder, silent over Africa.

8. _Epilogue._

At the midnight in the silence of the sleep-time, When you set your fancies free, Will they pa.s.s to where--by death, fools think, imprisoned-- Low he lies who once so loved you, whom you loved so, --Pity me?

Oh to love so, be so loved, yet so mistaken!

What had I on earth to do With the slothful, with the mawkish, the unmanly?

Like the aimless, helpless, hopeless, did I drivel --Being--who?

One who never turned his back but marched breast forward, Never doubted clouds would break, Never dreamed, though right were worsted, wrong would triumph, Held we fall to rise, are baffled to fight better, Sleep to wake.

No, at noonday in the bustle of man's work-time Greet the unseen with a cheer!

Bid him forward, breast and back as either should be, "Strive and thrive!" cry "Speed,--fight on, fare ever There as here!"

_1896 Edition._

ROBERT BURNS.

9. _The Silver Ta.s.sie._

I.

Go, fetch to me a pint o' wine, And fill it in a silver ta.s.sie, That I may drink before I go A service to my bonie la.s.sie!

The boat rocks at the pier o' Leith, Fu' loud the wind blaws frae the Ferry, The ship rides by the Berwick-Law, And I maun leave my bonie Mary.

II.

The trumpets sound, the banners fly, The glittering spears are ranked ready, The shouts o' war are heard afar, The battle closes deep and b.l.o.o.d.y.

It's not the roar o' sea or sh.o.r.e Wad mak me langer wish to tarry, Nor shouts o' war that's heard afar: It's leaving thee, my bonie Mary!

10. _Of a' the Airts._

I.

Of a' the airts the wind can blaw I dearly like the west, For there the bonie la.s.sie lives, The la.s.sie I lo'e best.

There wild woods grow, and rivers row, And monie a hill between, But day and night my fancy's flight Is ever wi' my Jean.

II.

I see her in the dewy flowers-- I see her sweet and fair.

I hear her in the tunefu' birds-- I hear her charm the air.

There's not a bonie flower that springs By fountain, shaw, or green, There's not a bonie bird that sings, But minds me o' my Jean.

11. _John Anderson my Jo._

I.

John Anderson my jo, John, When we were first acquent, Your locks were like the raven, Your bonie brow was brent; But now your brow is beld, John, Your locks are like the snaw, But blessings on your frosty pow, John Anderson my jo!

II.

John Anderson my jo, John, We clamb the hill thegither, And monie a cantie day, John, We've had wi' ane anither; Now we maun totter down, John, And hand in hand we'll go, And sleep thegither at the foot, John Anderson my jo!

12. _Ae Fond Kiss._

I.

Ae fond kiss, and then we sever!

Ae farewell, and then forever!

Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee, Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.

Who shall say that Fortune grieves him, While the star of hope she leaves him?

Me, nae cheerfu' twinkle lights me, Dark despair around benights me.

II.

I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy: Naething could resist my Nancy!

But to see her was to love her, Love but her, and love for ever.

Had we never lov'd sae kindly, Had we never lov'd sae blindly, Never met--or never parted-- We had ne'er been broken-hearted.

III.

Fare-thee-weel, thou first and fairest!

Fare-thee-weel, thou best and dearest!

Thine be ilka joy and treasure, Peace, Enjoyment, Love, and Pleasure!

Ae fond kiss, and then we sever!

Ae farewell, alas, for ever!

Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee, Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.

13. _Ye Flowery Banks._

I.

Ye flowery banks o' bonie Doon, How can ye blume sae fair?

How can ye chant, ye little birds, And I sae fu' o' care?

II.