The Forest Minstrel [Verse] Ed. by B.S. Schneck (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: AWAKE! THOU THAT SLEEPEST. Sleeper, awake! Beneath thy pillow Lie serpents coiled, with deadly fangs, While o'er the deep and sullen billow, On the cliff's edge, thy bower hangs. Sleeper, awake! The blossoms round thee Breathe venom with their rich perfume, And poisoned thorns to pierce and wound thee, Beset the stalk of every bloom. A deathful darkness gathers o'er thee, Life-chilling dews around thee weep, Voices from earth and heaven implore thee, To rouse thee from this fatal sleep. Sleeper! The hurricane is coming; The serpents' fangs are near thy brow; The giant waves come swelling, foaming; Death waits! Oh, sleeper! waken now. TO THE " WEEKLY MESSENGER." On receiving the first number (1836). Welcome to the weary breast, Messenger of Peace, Bidding care's wild billows rest, And worldly sorrows cease? Bidding bleeding hearts like mine, Seek the balsam from above; Bearing from the Fount Divine, Messenger of Love. This poor heart has fondly clung To many an earthly joy, Then with bitter anguish wrung, Mourned o'er the broken toy. I have watch'd the budding flower, And fondly hoped to see it blow, But the storm, the frost, or shower, Has ever laid it low. I have lent a willing ear To Hope's delusive strain: And shed full many a bitter tear, To find her promise vain. I have sought perennial flow'rs Along life's painful thorny way; And mourned beneath the rifled bow'rs To see them fall away. I have learn'd what restless things Earth's joys and treasures are; Seen them spread their phantom wings, And vanish into air. All the love and joys of earth Are like the bubbles on the stream; All its honour, fame, and mirth, The meteor's flitting gleam. Welcome! then, fair Messen...