Despotism: Or, The Last Days of the American Republic

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Hall & Willson, 1856 - 463 pages

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Page 388 - Lighter than air, Hope's summer-visions die, If but a fleeting cloud obscure the sky ; If but a beam of sober Reason play, Lo, Fancy's fairy frost-work melts away ! But can the wiles of Art, the grasp of Power, Snatch the rich relics of a well-spent hour? These, when the trembling spirit wings her flight, Pour round her path a stream of living light, And gild those pure and perfect realms of rest Where Virtue triumphs and her sons are blest ! FROM 'HUMAN LIFE.
Page 153 - Not a drum was heard, not a funeral note, As his corse to the rampart we hurried ; Not a soldier discharged his farewell shot O'er the grave where our hero we buried. We buried him darkly at dead of night, The sods with our bayonets turning ; By the struggling moonbeam's misty light And the lantern dimly burning. No useless coffin enclosed his breast...
Page 309 - Still thro' the gloom thy star serenely glows : Like yon fair orb, she gilds the brow of night With the mild magic of reflected light. The beauteous maid, who bids the world adieu, Oft of that world will snatch a fond review; Oft at the shrine neglect her beads, to trace Some social scene, some dear, familiar face : And ere with iron tongue, the vesper-bell Bursts thro...
Page 137 - Ages and climes remote to Thee impart What charms in Genius, and refines in Art ; Thee, in whose hand the keys of Science dwell, The pensive portress of her holy cell ; Whose constant vigils chase the chilling damp Oblivion steals upon her vestal-lamp.
Page 161 - But, Oh ! Ellis, these cursed, double cursed news, have sunk my spirits so much, that I am almost at disbelieving a Providence. God forgive me ! But I think some evil demon has been permitted, in the shape of this tyrannical monster whom God has sent on the nations visited in his anger. I am confident he is proof against lead and steel, and have only hopes that he may be shot with a silver bullet,* or drowned in the torrents of blood which he delights to shed.
Page 318 - With this ring I thee wed, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Page 372 - Ah ! who can tell the triumphs of the mind, By truth illumined, and by taste refined ? When age has quenched the eye, and closed the ear, Still nerved for action in her native sphere, Oft will she rise — with searching glance pursue Some long-loved image vanished from her view; Dart thro...
Page 309 - Bursts through the cypress-walk, the convent-cell, Oft will her warm and wayward heart revive, To love and joy still tremblingly alive ; The whisper'd vow, the chaste caress prolong, Weave the light dance and swell the choral song; With rapt ear drink the enchanting serenade, And, as it melts along the moonlight glade, To each soft note return as soft a sigh, And bless the youth that bids her slumbers fly.
Page 92 - Artisans drowned ..... 5,300 Victims at Lyons 31,000 Total - . 1,022,351 In this enumeration are not comprehended the massacres at Versailles, at the Abbey, the...
Page 356 - And he who, when the crisis of his tale Came, and all stood breathless with hope and fear, Sent round his cap ; and he who thrumm'd his wire And eang, with pleading look and plaintive strain Melting the passenger.

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