St Johns College - Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

Page 159 text:

Each knowing not the other- all alone. Before them now an opening chasm lies, And from its depths low muttering thunders rise, As if the elements all striving were To burst the earthly bonds that held them there. They strive to go, but none have ever crost 5 The leap is made 5 a life forever lost. Such, Fame, thou art 5 a blooming valley, where The voice of pleasure fills the summer air. But enter there, sad is thy mortal doom, The paths of glory lead fast to the tomb. The balmy fragrance of the zephyr's breath Soon changes to the simoon's blast of death. 184

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He sees the smile of no remembered face And feels the rapture of no loved embrace. No more he sees his youthful son in play Lead, with his father's sword, th' imagined fray. All -all are gone l the passing zephyr's breath Stops in its play, and to him whispers Death l Where, then, are thou, oh I glory P Come and cheer The bosom robbed of all it held as dear. What are thy hidden charms, oh l laureled Fame ? Hast ever tl'1ou'been but a shallow name ? Yet what a name l within its boundless sphere The course of ages may be pictured clear. Before me seems a vale, a gentle vale Upon an isle of summer, and the pale, Soft light of Dian twines among the trees That softly tremble 'neath the evening breeze. And gazing there I see an endless throng That through this vale enchanted moves along. On, on, they go, amid the summer's bloom, Thoughtless and happy. Lo l a shade of gloom Steals on them now 3 faint, silent yet it spreads, And settles fast upon the wave of heads. Yet on the throng.in silence ever goes, A human wave that restless onward flows. But now no more the verdure meets their eyes, No more the bed of flowers beneath them lies. Great, blackened rocks lift high a frowning brow Above the depths that darkly yawn below. And now from these there comes -is it a moan ? It is-it is- low misery's dying groan. Why do ye pause, ye foremost ? Have ye ne'er Heard sounds like these float on the summer air ? No sound can chill the heart or sympathies Awake, like misery's groan as slolw she dies. The foremost paused, but slowly onward now They pass 5 the gloom above, around, below, A torturing spirit seems to drive them on 3 183

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3 .93allacL-'- f7lze 811' .76'ng. . lTram'Iated from the German of Goethe.1 'lvl'-! l'+-!' I. HO rides so late through night and wild ? It is a father with his child 3 He holds the boy safe on his arm 3 He has him close, he keeps him warm. II. My son, why hidest thou your face ? Seest thou, father, not th' Elf King's grace ? The Elf King, with his crown and train ? - My son, 'tis but a cloud of rain. - H - III. Thou, dearest child, come. Go with me I Full pretty games I'll play with thee 3 Myriad gay birds are on the strand, Myriad garments in Fairy land. IV. Father ! Father l O, do you hear ? The Elf King whispers in my ear. - Darling, be peaceful 5 be at ease, 'Tis the wind rustling the dry leaves. 185 H