THE ARGUMENT. Introduction-Ringing of bells in a neighbouring Village on the Birth of an Heir-General Reflections on Human Life-The Subject proposed-Childhood- YouthManhood-Love-Marriage-Domestic Happiness and Affliction-War-Peace-Civil Dissension-Retirement from active Life-Old Age and its Enjoyments— Conclusion. THE lark has sung his carol in the sky; Still in Llewellyn-hall the jests resound: For now the caudle-cup is circling there, Now, glad at heart, the gossips breathe their prayer, And, crowding, stop the cradle to admire A few short years-and then these sounds shall hail The day again, and gladness fill the vale; So soon the child a youth, the youth a man, Then the huge ox shall yield the broad sir-loin; And once, alas, nor in a distant hour, He rests in holy earth with them that went before. And such is Human Life; so gliding on, It glimmers like a meteor, and is gone! Yet is the tale, brief though it be, as strange, To minstrel-harps at midnight's witching hour! Born in a trance, we wake, observe, inquire; We cast a longer shadow in the sun ! Yet, all forgot, how oft the eye-lids close, } So like what once we were, and once again shall be ! An aged pilgrim on his staff shall lean, K |