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THE FALL OF BYZANTIUM.

And here the spirits of the "chainless" soul
Escaped the victor tyrant's stern control.
And like the flame of Vesta's holy fire,

That kindled once could never more expire,

These shall survive the fate on empires hurled,

And live to latest time-sole monarchs of the world!

SONNETS.

I

LEARNING.

WRITTEN FOR A COURSE OF HEBREW READING.

CELESTIAL Light! that from thy native sky
Hast deigned some portion of thy beams to pour,
And past, in dawning brightness, o'er an eye
That owns the ray, and feels athirst for more-
O like that light, in Holy Writ, that led

The Eastern sages on their anxious way,
And passing prouder cities with its ray,

Did deign to rest o'er Bethlehem's meanest shedWhile but thy passing rays are nightly spread O'er the fair page of Athens and of Rome,

Let the full lustre of thy light illume

That brighter record heaven to earth hath read; And I will follow on, and bless thy spell,

If there it lead at length, where my Redeemer dwell

"Non omnis moriar."

PARNASSUS! fruitful in fair flowers and trees,

And sacred, for thou art Apollo's shrine

And musical, for the still tuneful Nine

Breathe strains of rapture to the list'ning breeze; While many a vot'ry climbs thy steep with ease, Tastes the pure stream that gushes from thy mount, Aye! drinks of inspiration at its fount,

3

Roves o'er thy sweets, and plucks them where he please: A truant lingering round thy borders, I

Would steal, awhile, within the Muses' bower,

And spying, scattered here and there, a flower,
Would ask to cull one garland ere I die,

To twine one fadeless wreath around my lyre,
Then will I smile at death,—I shall not all expire.