And so, for the sake of old friendship, I ven ture to tell you the truth And you? Have you aimed at the highest? As plainly, perhaps, and as bluntly, as I Have you looked upon evil unsullied? have Go measure yourself by her standard; look that the love of her girlhood is dead. She cannot look down to her lover: her love, like her soul, aspires; He must stand by her side or above her who Now farewell! For the sake of old friendship That glittered like stars by the light of the moon? Her face has the look worn by those who with God and his angels have talked; The white robes she wears are less white than Oh, why are these dewdrops dissolving so Hath the sun in his wrath chased their brightness away, As though nothing that's lovely might live for a day? THE TZAR AND THE SHEPHERDS. THE HE tzar has wandered from the citygate The moonlight has faded, the flowers still To seek seclusion from the cares of state, remain, But the dewdrops have fled from their petals again." And thus he mused: "What troubles That I accomplish when I purpose this. "My child," said the father, "look up to And toil unwearied for my subjects' bliss: the skies; Its brightness lasts a moment, and the tzar Behold yon bright rainbow, those beautiful For the state's safety is compelled to war. dyes: There, there are the dewdrops in glory re set; 'Midst the jewels of heaven they are glittering yet. God knows I love my subjects-fain would bless them, But oft mistake, and injure and oppress them. I seek for truth, but courtiers all deceive me; And thus we are taught by each beautiful They fill their purses and deluded leave me. ray To mourn not for beauty, though fading away; For if youth in its freshness and beauty be riven, My people sigh and groan: I share their pain, And struggle to relieve them, but in vain.” Thus mused the lord of many nations; then. 'Tis but borne from this earth to bear Looked up, and saw wide scattered o'er the brighter in heaven." That the beautiful child-a bright star of his They fled from place to place, alarmed, He cries, he beats his breast, he tears his | The monarch lost all patience now: hair, Invoking death in agonized despair. "Behold my picture," said His Majesty: "Here is another sovereign, just like me; I'm glad to know vexations travel far And plague a shepherd as they plague a tzar." And on he moved in more contented mood— Whither, he knew not; but beyond the wood He saw the loveliest flock that ever grazed, And lingered, mute with wonder, as he gazed. How strong! how sleek! how satisfied! how fair! Wool soft as silk, and, piled in luxury there, Its golden burden seemed too great to bear; The lambs, as if they ran for wagers, playing, Or near their dams, or far, securely straying, "Ah!" said the tzar, "ye little think And so it was as if the wolf had heard, But the dogs the wily traitor knew, His blood has for his daring paid, For very wantonness and cruelty. He saw a stork just lighted on the ground And, bending his strong bow, he straightway aimed His keenest arrow at its panting heart. And the lambkin that through fear had The lucky arrow missed a vital part strayed Is gathered into the fold anew; And the shepherd's pipe was echoed still Down the vale and up the hill. Or was it some kind wind that pushed it by? And only struck and broke the creature's thigh. The poor thing tumbled in a lily-bed, ers, Large as a pigeon's egg and red as wine. Again it saw its blood the flowers, upon And, last, the cruel prince, who laughed with And saw the walks, the fountain's shaft in air, glee, Fixing the picture in its memory; This done, it struggled up and flew away, Leaving the prince amazed and in dismay. Beyond the city walls a league or more Her name was Heraclis. The fainting stork She fetched it water from a neighbor spring, And while it drank and washed each dabbled wing She set the fractured bones with pious care And bound them with the fillet of her hair. Eased of its pain, again it flew away, Leaving the maiden happier all the day. But not the cruel prince: no prince was there; up So and down the spacious courts it flew, There came a light tap on the window-pane In walked the stork again, as white as snow, That night the prince, as usual, went to And something human brightened in its eye— Great pearls milk-white and shining like the She stretched her hand to sleek its bowing Emeralds grass-green, sapphires like skies of But ere she could it made a sudden stand June, Brilliants that threw their light upon the wall, And one great ruby that outshone them all, And thrust the priceless ruby in her hand, And, sailing swiftly through the cottage door, Mounted the morning sky, and came no more. RICHARD HENRY STODDARD. |