We are glad to see the
vulgarity of
I'm busy in the cotton trade
And sugar line,
omitted in the present edition. The eleventh stanza is certainly not
English as it stands- and besides it is altogether unintelligible.
What is the meaning of this?
But her who asks, though first among
The good, the beautiful, the young
The birthright of a spell more strong
Than these have brought her.
The Lines on the Death of Joseph Rodman Drake, we prefer to any of
the writings of Halleck. It has that rare merit in composition of this
kind- the union of tender sentiment and simplicity. This poem consists
merely of six quatrains, and we quote them in full.
Green be the turf above thee,
Friend of my better days!
None knew thee but to love thee,
Nor named thee but to praise.
Tears fell when thou wert dying
From eyes unused to weep,
And long, where thou art lying,
Will tears the cold turf steep.
When hearts whose truth was proven,
Like thine are laid in earth,
There should a wreath be woven
To tell the world their worth.
And I, who woke each morrow
To clasp thy hand in mine,
Who shared thy joy and sorrow,
Whose weal and woe were thine-
It should be mine to braid it
Around thy faded brow,
But I've in vain essayed it,
And feel I cannot now.
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