II. GREETINGS, CONGRATULATIONS, AND VALEDICTIONS. "Whatever fate Befall thee, I shall love thee to the last, WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. Michael. MOMENTS. [EXTRACT.] WHEN a sudden gust hath tumbled O these are moments, trying moments When a flash of truth hath found thee, In whom kindred virtues dwell, O these are moments, rare fair moments; FLOWERS of joy for thee, Fair of fairest faces; May no grief or care Leave by thee their traces: Sunlight, round thee shining, Glad with fancies free, Angel-fingers lining Silver clouds for thee. BRUTUS hath riv'd my heart : A friend should bear his friend's infirmities, ROWLAND BROWN. SONG. Julius Cæsar. THERE'S a sleek thrush sits in the apple-tree For the thrush will fly when the bloom must go. O a friend I had, and I loved him well, And his heart was open and sang to mine, And it pains me more than I choose to tell, That he cares no more if I laugh or pine. Friend of mine, Can the music fade out of love like thine! EDMUND W. Gosse. New Poems. (K. Paul.) THE dearest friend to me, the kindest man, The best-condition'd and unwearied spirit In doing courtesies. WILLIAM SHAKSPERE. Merchant of Venice. WISH me partaker in thy happiness, When thou dost meet good hap; and in thy danger, If ever danger do environ thee, Commend thy grievance to my holy prayers, For I will be thy bead's-man, Valentine. WILLIAM SHAKspere. Two Gentlemen of Verona. Proteus. ALL happiness bechance to thee in Milan ! Valentine. As much to you at home! and so, farewell. WILLIAM SHAKSPERE. Two Gentlemen of Verona. INTO mid-heaven's azure deeps BLOSSOMS bright and gay, dear, Snow upon the ground, Wintertime and May, dear So the year goes round. Yet take a wish to-day, dear, For life with garlands crowned, And song from every spray, dear, The whole year round. For hearts where love hath sway, dear, And sunny hopes abound, Will make the seasons May, dear, The glad year round. COUNSELS. FREDERICK LANGBRIDGE. LIFE, and light, and joy are found Light from many fountains pour'd ; Life, and light, and holy joy, Bring to Him life's brightest hours, He will make them still more bright; Give to Him your noblest powers, He will hallow all your might: All the open thought of youth, And its busier enterprise, You shall find Him ever near ;— In the glory of His grace :- C. E. MUDIE. Stray Leaves. (Macmillan.) And here's a hand to help thee, And here's a heart to guide My friend, my friend of olden days, G. F. ARMSTRONG. Poems: Lyrical and Dramatic. (Longmans.) WHAT Soul could dream of better bliss, All unconstrained and light of heart, To all that breathed within its scope? TO A FRIEND LEAVING ENGLAND FOR A YEAR'S RESIDENCE IN AUSTRALIA. As parting now he goes From snow-time back to snows, So back to spring from summer may next year At fortune's happiest hour of star-blest birth, To eyes with eyes that commune, hand with hand, FORGET me slowly, youthful Friend! I dare not say "remember "— Then slowly, slowly let me glide Adown the unreverting tide Of those memorial thoughts that blend Thy May with my November! AUBREY DE Vere. Poems: Meditative and Lyrical. (K. Paul.) I GIVE my hand; the world is wide; Then farewell memories of yore, Between us let strife be no more; Turn as you choose to either side; Say Fare-you-well, shake hands, and saySpeak loud, and say with stately grace, Hand clutching hand, face bent to faceFarewell for ever and a day. JOAQUIN MILLER. Songs of the Sierras. (Longmans.) A COMPLAINT. THERE is a change—and I am poor; I trust it is, and never dry; Be mine thy mantle; and impart Thine own pure singleness of heart, And make me all that thou hast been: Teach me to know, and feel, and see Thy worth, the paths which thou hast trodMy beacon on life's ocean be, To lead my trembling steps to God. UNKNOWN. COME, here's a health to thee and thine! Trust me, whate'er we may be told, Few things are better than old wine, When tasted with a friend that's old. UNKNOWN. My own friend, my old friend! To be bought and sold, friend! LORD HOUGHTON. WHAT shall preserve thee, beautiful child? At God's pure throne to bow? And life grows early dimWho shall be near thee in thy need, To lead thee up to Him? He who Himself was "undefiled"? With Him we trust thee, beautiful child! N. P. WILLIS. Poetical Works. (Routledge.) OUR hands in one, we will not shrink Our hands in one, we will not blink What each would feel a heavy blow LORD HOUGHTON. TAKE my greeting, friend. Over dear ones passed away; Take, O friend, to-day, Take all greeting true and tender FREDERICK LANGBRIDGE. BELOVED! amid the earnest woes My soul at least a solace hath |