THE MODERN PLATO.

Thus in thy fostering eye, beneath thy smile,
Those virtues grew,

That with the cross the christian reconcile,
And bring to view

The graces of his Lord, that living faith
Which conquers sin;

For Jesus breathes upon him with His breath,
And makes him clean.

That pictured vision greets me-and it tells
Of one whose name,

Cherished in many a faithful bosom dwells,
Dearer than fame.

Sweet charity! of heaven-descended form,
And spotless face;

He gave thee shelter from the beating storm,
And praised thy grace.

And he was taught by wisdom,-earthly lore
Engaged his mind ;

Whilst many a trophy thence, he gaily bore
To charm mankind.

Yes! from thy classic fountain, Castaly!
He loved to draw,

In "crystal buckets;" thought, sublime and free
With nature's law.

And thou, the loved Siloam! it was thine
From thy pure spring,

To sooth his spirit with thy draught benign—
And softly fling

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The airs of heaven around him, breathing there
Ethereal breath,

And waking up that soul to visions fair,
Unscathed by death.

Hail to thy ransomed spirit! tutored well
In themes divine;

Thy race on earth was done-and thou couldst tell
The worth of time.

Brother! and friend! and champion in the race
That leads on high!

Clothed in the christian's panoply of grace
For thee, the sky

Shone with a bright effulgence-whilst thy Lord
Was beaming there;

And on thy head His radiant mercy poured,—
Given at thy prayer.

Yes! earth for thee was vanquished,—and the hour
That bore thee hence

Was witness to the Saviour's conquering power;-
For time and sense

Before His presence vanished,-and His voice

Of peace and love,

Called thee with Him for ever to rejoice,

In worlds above.

"For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit."-1 COR. xii. 8.

THE FAIRY QUEEN.

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THE FAIRY QUEEN.

BEDIGHT with many a glittering gem,
Crowned with a regal diadem,

Titania sate;

The people's voices praised her name,
Poets and patriots spoke her fame,-
With pride elate.

The palm of beauty and renown,
Methinks that both alike might own
Her favouring smile :

But beauty's homage well might seem
Like fair enchantress in life's dream,
With winning wile.

Upon a dizzy height she stood

The nations round her like a flood,

Their tribute gave;

And earth poured out with liberal hand,
Her brightest boons to bless the land,
Like plenty's wave.

Behold that lofty vestal now!

The circlets that adorn her brow

Her state express;

And power-the attribute of heaven,
Into that slender hand is given,

Mankind to bless.

Among the shades of night, that fling
O'er ignorance their vampire wing,
Her light went forth;

For learning in that mind was seen;
She sate, Britannia's classic queen,
And graced the earth.

Her empire swept from sea to sea;
And where our country's ramparts be,
Her princely rule

Which brought her subjects to obey
And own their monarch's peaceful sway,
Bade factions cool.

Courtiers and statesmen bowed the head,
With suitors in soft fetters led,
Who kissed her hand ;—

Look on that galaxy from far!
Where mingling lights of every star,
Poured on the land.

I see her on the loftiest throne
That maiden e'er might look upon
With longing eye ;—

I see within that stricken breast,
That seat of anguish and unrest,
Her spirit die!

Alas! alas! for human things ;-
The vanities of earth take wings
And flee away :

Thrice happy he whose stedfast soul
Has run to win the christian's goal,
And met the day!

THE FAIRY QUEEN.

God's promised hour at length will come,
When truth shall speak the people's doom
Alike to all:

When prince and peasant must resign

The glittering joys that round them shine,
For death's dark pall.

Eternity, that solemn word!

Shall then by all alike, be heard
With thrilling tone;

Each vast reality shall then

Burst on the astonished gaze of men,

In heaven's clear zone.

Children of royalty! in dust,

How soon shall lie your sordid rust,
Your gay parade ;

Then seek with all your hope, your love,
The glories of that world above,
Which never fade!

Farewell to all the pomp of kings!
To vain ambition, and the things
Of time and sense :

There is a realm of pure delight,
Beyond the senseless worldling's sight-
Of strong defence.

And oh, to gain that sure abode !
Safe in the bosom of our God,

Our Saviour true :

To stand before Him in the dress,
Wrought by His finished righteousness,
Complete and new!

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