Then peace was spread throughout the land.
The lion fed beside the tender lamb;
And with the kid, 10
To pasture led,
The spotted leopard fed;
In peace, the calf and bear,
The wolf and lamb reposed together there.
As shepherds watched their flocks by night 15
An angel, brighter than the sun’s own light,
Appeared in air,
And gently said,
Fear not, — be not afraid,
For lo! beneath your eyes, 20
Earth has become a smiling paradise.
A Soldier’s Song
Paraphrase of a Neapolitan popular song.
“WHO knocks, — who knocks at my door.
Who knocks, and who can it be?”
“Thy own true lover, betrothed forever,
So open the door to me.”
“My mother is not at home, 5
So I cannot open to thee.”
“Why make me wait so long at the gate,
For mercy’s sake open to me.”
“Thou canst not come in so late,
From the window I ‘ll listen to thee.” 10
“My cloak is old, and the wind blows cold,
So open the door to me.”
Tell me, tell me, thou pretty bee
By Giovanni Meli
TELL me, tell me, thou pretty bee,
Whither so early thy flight may be?
Not a neighboring mountain height
Yet blushes with the morning light;
Still the dew on spray and blossom 5
Trembling shines in the meadow’s bosom;
Why do I see thee, then, unfold
Thy soft and dainty wings of gold; —
Those little wings are weary quite,
Still thou holdest thy onward flight, — 10
Then tell me, tell me, thou pretty bee,
Whither so early thy flight may be.
Thou seekest honey? — if it be so,
Fold up thy wings, — no farther go;
I ‘ll show thee a safe and sacred spot, 15
Where all the year round ‘t will fail thee not.
Knowest thou the maid for whom I sigh, —
Her of the bright and beaming eye?
Endless sweetness shalt thou sip,
Honied stores upon her lip. 20
On those lips of brightest red,
Lips of the beloved maid,
Sweetest honey lies for thee; —
Sip it, — sip it; — this is she.
Sicilian Canzonet
WHAT shall I do, sweet Nici, tell me,
I burn, — I burn — I can no more!
I know not how the thing befell me,
But I ‘m in love, and all is o’er.
One look, — alas! one glance of thine, 5
One single glance my death shall be;
Even this poor heart no more is mine,
For, Nici, it belongs to thee.
How shall I then my grief repress,
How shall this soul in anguish live? 10
I fear a no, — desire a yes, —
But which the answer thou wilt give?
No, — Love, — not so deceived am I;
Soft pity dwells in those bright eyes,
And no tyrannic cruelty 15
Within that gentle bosom lies.
Then, fairest Nici, speak and say
If I must know thy love or hate;
Oh, do not leave me thus, I pray,
But speak, — be quick, — I cannot wait. 20
Quick, — I entreat thee; — if not so,
This weary soul no more shall sigh; —
So tell me quickly, — yes or no,
Which, — which shall be my destiny.
The Gleaner of Sapri
By Luigi Mercantini
Published in the Supplement to The Poets and Poetry of Europe. “This poet,” says Mr. Longfellow, “is a professor in the University of Palermo. The following simple and striking poem from his pen has reference to the ill-fated expedition of Carlo Pisacane, on the shores of the kingdom of Naples on the summer of 1857, in which says Dall’ Ongaro, ‘he fell with his followers like Leonidas with his three hundred.’”
THEY were three hundred, they were young and strong,
And they are dead!
One morning as I went to glean the grain,
I saw a bark in middle of the main;
It was a bark came steaming to the shore, 5
And hoisted for its flag the tricolor.
At Ponza’s isle it stopped beneath the lea,
It stayed awhile, and then put out to sea,
Put out to sea, and came unto our strand;
Landed with arms, but not as foemen land. 10
They were three hundred, they were young and strong,
And they are dead!
Landed with arms, but not as foemen land,
For they stooped down and kissed the very sand.
And one by one I looked them in the face; 15
A tear and smile in each one I could trace!
“Thieves from their dens are these,” some people said,
And yet they took not even a loaf of bread!
I heard them utter but a single cry:
“We for our native land have come to die!” 20
They were three hundred, they were young and strong,
And they are dead!
With eyes of azure, and with hair of gold,
A young man marched in front of them; and bold
I made myself, and having seized his hand, 25
Asked him, “Where goest, fair captain of the band?”
He looked at me and answered, “Sister mine,
I go to die for this fair land of thine!”
I felt my heart was trembling through and through,
Nor could I say to him, “God comfort you!” 30
They were three hundred, they were young and strong,
And they are dead!
That morning I forgot to glean the grain,
And set myself to follow in their train.
Twice over they encountered the gens-d’armes, 35
Twice over they despoiled them of their arms;
But when we came before Certosa’s wall
We heard the drums beat and the trumpets call,
And ‘mid the smoke, the firing, and the glare,
More than a thousand fell upon them there. 40
They were three hundred, they were young and strong,
And they are dead!
They were three hundred, and they would not fly;
They seemed three thousand, and they wished to die,
But wished to die with weapons in their hands; 45
Before them ran with blood the meadow lands.
I prayed for them, but ere the fight was o’er,
Swooned suddenly away, and looked no more;
For in their midst I could no more behold
Those eyes of azure and that hair of gold! 50
They were three hundred, they were young and strong,
And they are dead!
The Poems
63 Federal Street, Brunswick — Longfellow’s home whilst a student at Bowdoinis college. Incidentally, it is the same house in which Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote her famous novel ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ several years later.
LIST OF POEMS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
PRELUDE
HYMN TO THE NIGHT
A PSALM OF LIFE
THE REAPER AND THE FLOWERS
THE LIGHT OF STARS
FOOTSTEPS OF ANGELS
FLOWERS
THE BELEAGUERED CITY
MIDNIGHT MASS FOR THE DYING YEAR
THE BATTLE OF LOVELL’S POND
TO IANTHE
THANKSGIVING
AUTUMNAL NIGHTFALL
ITALIAN SCENERY
THE LUNATIC GIRL
THE VENETIAN GONDOLIER
&nb
sp; THE ANGLER’S SONG
LOVER’S ROCK
DIRGE OVER A NAMELESS GRAVE
A SONG OF SAVOY
THE INDIAN HUNTER
ODE WRITTEN FOR THE COMMEMORATION AT FRYEBURG, MAINE, OF LOVEWELL’S FIGHT
JECKOYVA
THE SEA-DIVER
MUSINGS
SONG
SONG OF THE BIRDS
AN APRIL DAY
AUTUMN
WOODS IN WINTER
HYMN OF THE MORAVIAN NUNS OF BETHLEHEM
SUNRISE ON THE HILLS
THE SPIRIT OF POETRY
BURIAL OF THE MINNISINK
L’ENVOI
THE SKELETON IN ARMOR
THE WRECK OF THE HESPERUS
THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH
ENDYMION
IT IS NOT ALWAYS MAY
THE RAINY DAY
GOD’S-ACRE
TO THE RIVER CHARLES
BLIND BARTIMEUS
THE GOBLET OF LIFE
MAIDENHOOD
EXCELSIOR
TO WILLIAM E. CHANNING
THE SLAVE’S DREAM
THE GOOD PART, THAT SHALL NOT BE TAKEN AWAY
THE SLAVE IN THE DISMAL SWAMP
THE SLAVE SINGING AT MIDNIGHT
THE WITNESSES
THE QUADROON GIRL
THE WARNING
CARILLON
THE BELFRY OF BRUGES
A GLEAM OF SUNSHINE
THE ARSENAL AT SPRINGFIELD
NUREMBERG
THE NORMAN BARON
RAIN IN SUMMER
TO A CHILD
THE OCCULTATION OF ORION
THE BRIDGE
TO THE DRIVING CLOUD
FLIGHT THE FIRST.
BIRDS OF PASSAGE
PROMETHEUS, OR THE POET’S FORETHOUGHT
EPIMETHEUS, OR THE POET’S AFTERTHOUGHT
THE LADDER OF ST. AUGUSTINE
THE WARDEN OF THE CINQUE PORTS
HAUNTED HOUSES
IN THE CHURCHYARD AT CAMBRIDGE
THE EMPEROR’S BIRD’S-NEST
THE TWO ANGELS
DAYLIGHT AND MOONLIGHT
THE JEWISH CEMETERY AT NEWPORT
OLIVER BASSELIN
VICTOR GALBRAITH
MY LOST YOUTH
THE ROPEWALK
THE GOLDEN MILE-STONE
CATAWBA WINE
SANTA FILOMENA
THE DISCOVERER OF THE NORTH CAPE
DAYBREAK
THE FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY OF AGASSIZ
CHILDREN
SANDALPHON
FLIGHT THE SECOND
THE CHILDREN’S HOUR
ENCELADUS
THE CUMBERLAND
SNOW-FLAKES
A DAY OF SUNSHINE
SOMETHING LEFT UNDONE
WEARINESS
THE DAY IS DONE
AFTERNOON IN FEBRUARY
TO AN OLD DANISH SONG BOOK
WALTER VON DER VOGELWEID
DRINKING SONG
THE OLD CLOCK ON THE STAIRS
THE ARROW AND THE SONG
MEZZO CAMMIN
THE EVENING STAR
AUTUMN
DANTE
CURFEW
EVANGELINE
DEDICATION
THE BUILDING OF THE SHIP
SEAWEED
CHRYSAOR
THE SECRET OF THE SEA
TWILIGHT
BY THE SEASIDE.
SIR HUMPHREY GILBERT
THE LIGHTHOUSE
THE FIRE OF DRIFT-WOOD
RESIGNATION
THE BUILDERS
SAND OF THE DESERT IN AN HOUR-GLASS
THE OPEN WINDOW
KING WITLAF’S DRINKING-HORN
GASPAR BECERRA
PEGASUS IN POUND
TEGNÉR’S DRAPA
SONNET, ON MRS. KEMBLE’S READINGS FROM SHAKESPEARE
THE SINGERS
SUSPIRIA
HYMN FOR MY BROTHER’S ORDINATION
THE SONG OF HIAWATHA
MILES STANDISH
LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP
THE LOVER’S ERRAND
JOHN ALDEN
THE SAILING OF THE MAYFLOWER
PRISCILLA
THE MARCH OF MILES STANDISH
THE SPINNING-WHEEL
THE WEDDING-DAY
PRELUDE I.
THE LANDLORD’S TALE
PAUL REVERE’S RIDE
THE LANDLORD’S TALE: INTERLUDE
THE STUDENT’S TALE
THE FALCON OF SER FEDERIGO
THE STUDENT’S TALE: INTERLUDE
THE SPANISH JEW’S TALE
THE LEGEND OF RABBI BEN LEVI
THE SPANISH JEW’S TALE: INTERLUDE
THE SICILIAN’S TALE
KING ROBERT OF SICILY
THE SICILIAN’S TALE: INTERLUDE
THE MUSICIAN’S TALE
THE SAGA OF KING OLAF
THE CHALLENGE OF THOR
KING OLAF’S RETURN
THORA OF RIMOL
QUEEN SIGRID THE HAUGHTY
THE SKERRY OF SHRIEKS
THE WRAITH OF ODIN
IRON-BEARD
GUDRUN
THANGBRAND THE PRIEST
RAUD THE STRONG
BISHOP SIGURD OF SALTEN FIORD
KING OLAF’S CHRISTMAS
THE BUILDING OF THE LONG SERPENT
THE CREW OF THE LONG SERPENT
A LITTLE BIRD IN THE AIR
QUEEN THYRI AND THE ANGELICA STALKS
KING SVEND OF THE FORKED BEARD
KING OLAF AND EARL SIGVALD
KING OLAF’S WAR-HORNS
EINAR TAMBERSKELVER
KING OLAF’S DEATH-DRINK
THE NUN OF NIDAROS
THE MUSICIAN’S TALE: INTERLUDE
THE THEOLOGIAN’S TALE
TORQUEMADA
THE THEOLOGIAN’S TALE: INTERLUDE
THE POET’S TALE
THE BIRDS OF KILLINGWORTH
THE POET’S TALE: FINALE
PRELUDE II.
THE SICILIAN’S TALE
THE BELL OF ATRI
THE SICILIAN’S TALE: INTERLUDE
THE SPANISH JEW’S TALE
KAMBALU
THE SPANISH JEW’S TALE: INTERLUDE
THE STUDENT’S TALE
THE COBBLER OF HAGENAU
THE STUDENT’S TALE: INTERLUDE
THE MUSICIAN’S TALE
THE BALLAD OF CARMILHAN
THE MUSICIAN’S TALE : INTERLUDE
THE POET’S TALE
LADY WENTWORTH
THE POET’S TALE: INTERLUDE
THE THEOLOGIAN’S TALE
THE LEGEND BEAUTIFUL
THE THEOLOGIAN’S TALE: INTERLUDE
THE STUDENT’S SECOND TALE
THE BARON OF ST. CASTINE
THE STUDENT’S SECOND TALE: FINALE
PRELUDE III.
THE SPANISH JEW’S TALE
AZRAEL
THE SPANISH JEW’S TALE: INTERLUDE
THE POET’S TALE
CHARLEMAGNE
THE POET’S TALE: INTERLUDE
THE STUDENT’S TALE
EMMA AND EGINHARD
THE STUDENT’S TALE: INTERLUDE
THE THEOLOGIAN’S TALE
ELIZABETH
THE THEOLOGIAN’S TALE: INTERLUDE
THE SICILIAN’S TALE
THE MONK OF CASAL-MAGGIORE
THE SICILIAN’S TALE: INTERLUDE
THE SPANISH JEW’S SECOND TALE
SCANDERBEG
THE SPANISH JEW’S SECOND TALE: INTERLUDE
THE MUSICIAN’S TALE
THE MOTHER’S GHOST
THE MUSICIAN’S TALE: INTERLUDE
THE LANDLORD’S TALE
THE RHYME OF SIR CHRISTOPHER
THE LANDLORD’S TALE: FINALE
FLOWER-DE-LUCE
PALINGENESIS
THE BRIDGE OF CLOUD
HAWTHORNE
CHRISTMAS BELLS
THE WIND OVER THE CHIMNEY
&nb
sp; THE BELLS OF LYNN
KILLED AT THE FORD
GIOTTO’S TOWER
TO-MORROW
DIVINA COMMEDIA
NOËL
THE MASQUE OF PANDORRA
THE MASQUE OF PANDORRA: INTRODUCTORY
THE WORKSHOP OF HEPHÆSTUS
OLYMPUS
TOWER OF PROMETHEUS ON MOUNT CAUCASUS
THE AIR
THE HOUSE OF EPIMETHEUS
IN THE GARDEN
THE HOUSE OF EPIMETHEUS
IN THE GARDEN
BIRDS OF PASSAGE: FLIGHT THE THIRD.
FATA MORGANA
THE HAUNTED CHAMBER
THE MEETING
VOX POPULI
THE CASTLE-BUILDER
CHANGED
THE CHALLENGE
THE BROOK AND THE WAVE
AFTERMATH
THE HANGING OF THE CRANE
MORITURI SALUTAMUS
A BOOK OF SONNETS: PART I.
THREE FRIENDS OF MINE
CHAUCER
SHAKESPEARE
MILTON
KEATS
THE GALAXY
THE SOUND OF THE SEA
A SUMMER DAY BY THE SEA
THE TIDES
A SHADOW
A NAMELESS GRAVE
SLEEP
THE OLD BRIDGE AT FLORENCE
IL PONTE VECCHIO DI FIRENZE
BIRDS OF PASSAGE: FLIGHT THE FOURTH.
CHARLES SUMNER
TRAVELS BY THE FIRESIDE
CADENABBIA
MONTE CASSINO
AMALFI
THE SERMON OF ST. FRANCIS
BELISARIUS
SONGO RIVER
KÉRAMOS.
BIRDS OF PASSAGE: FLIGHT THE FIFTH.
THE HERONS OF ELMWOOD
A DUTCH PICTURE
CASTLES IN SPAIN
VITTORIA COLONNA
THE REVENGE OF RAIN-IN-THE-FACE
TO THE RIVER YVETTE
THE EMPEROR’S GLOVE
A BALLAD OF THE FRENCH FLEE
THE LEAP OF ROUSHAN BEG
HAROUN AL RASCHID
KING TRISANKU
A WRAITH IN THE MIST
THE THREE KINGS
SONG: “STAY, STAY AT HOME MY HEART, AND REST”
THE WHITE CZAR
DELIA
A BOOK OF SONNETS: PART II.
NATURE
IN THE CHURCHYARD AT TARRYTOWN
ELIOT’S OAK
THE DESCENT OF THE MUSES
VENICE
THE POETS
PARKER CLEAVELAND
THE HARVEST MOON
TO THE RIVER RHONE
THE THREE SILENCES OF MOLINOS
THE TWO RIVERS
BOSTON
ST. JOHN’S, CAMBRIDGE
MOODS
WOODSTOCK PARK
THE FOUR PRINCESSES AT WILNA
HOLIDAYS
WAPENTAKE
THE BROKEN OAR
Delphi Complete Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (Delphi Poets Series Book 13) Page 149
