TO

MY MOST WORTHY

AND LEARNED FRIEND,

EDWARD BENLOWES

ESQUIRE.

SIR,

AS some Optic-glasses, if we look one way, increase the object; if the other, lessen the
quantity: Such is an Eye that looks through Affection; it doubles any good, and
extenuates what is amiss. Pardon me, Sir, for speaking plain truth; such is that eye
whereby you have viewed the raw Essays of my very unripe years, and almost
childhood. How unseasonable are Blossoms in autumn! (unless perhaps in this age,
where are more flowers than fruit) I am entering upon my winter, and yet these Blooms
of my first spring must now show themselves to our ripe wits, which certainly will give
them no other entertainment but derision. For my self, I cannot account that worthy of
your Patronage, which comes forth so short of my Desires, thereby meriting no other
light then the fire. But since you please to have them see more Day then their credit can
well endure, marvel not if they fly under your Shadow, to cover them from the piercing
eye of this very curious (yet more censorious) age. In letting them abroad I desire only
to testify, how much I prefer your desires before mine own, and how much I owe to You
more than any other: this if they witness for me, it is all their service I require. Sir, I
leave them to you tuition, and entreat you to love him who will contend with you in
nothing but to out-love you, and would be known to the world by no other Name, then

Your true friend,

P. F.

Hilgay, May 1. 1633.

To the readers.

HE that would learn Theology must first study Autology. The way to God is by our
selves: It is a blind and dirty way; it hath many windings, and is easy to be lost: This
Poem will make them understand that way; and therefore my desire is, that thou may
understand this Poem. Peruse it as thou should thyself, from thy first sheet to thy last.
The first view, perchance, may run thy judgement in debt; the second will promise
payment; and the third will perform promise. Thou shall here find Philosophy, and
Morality, two curious handmaids, dressing the Kings daughter, whose garments smell
of Myrrh and Cassia, and being wrought with needlework, and gold, shall make thee
take pleasure in her beauty. Here are no blocks for the purblind; no snares for the
timorous; no dangers for the bold: I invite all sorts to be readers; all readers to be
understanders; all understanders to be happy.

DANIEL FEALTY.

D. D.
 ON THE EXCELLENT

MORALL POEM,

ENTITULED THE
ISLE OF MAN.

Lord! how my youth with this vain world hath erred,

Applauding theirs as the only happy fate,
Whom to some Empire blood, choice, chance preferred,
Or who of learned arts could wisely prate;
Or travelling the world, had well conferred
Men’s natures with the mysteries of state!
But now thy wiser Muse hath taught me this,
That these and most men else do aim at bliss;
But these and most men else to take their aim amiss.

Reign over the world, not over this Isle of Man,

Worse then a slave thou thy own slaves obey.
Study all arts devised since time began,
And not thy Self, thou study not, but play.
Out-travel wise Ulysses, (if you can)
Yet miss this Isle, thou travel not, but stray.
Let me (O Lord) but reign over mine own heart,
And master be of this self-knowing art,
I'll dwell in the Isle of Man, never travel foreign part.

E. BENLOWES.

BENEVOLUS.

Ingeniose
INgeniose tuo ne libro supprime nomen;
Ingenio Authorem deteget ille suo.
Nempe verecundo memini te scribere vati,
Quod pulchre ingenio quadrat, amice, tuo.

QUid tuas retegis nimis tegendo

Noctiluca faces? pates latendo:
Ipsa es sphaera tuae comesque stellae.
Diem si repetas, die latebis.
on te nox tenebrist tegit fovendo,
Sed te nox tenebris fovendo prodit.

TO THE LEARNED
AUTHOUR, SONNE
AND BROTHER TO
two judicious Poets, himself the
third, not second to either.

Grave Father of this Muse, thou deem too light

To wear thy name, 'cause of thy youthful brain
It seems a sportful childe; resembling right
Thy witty childhood, not thy graver strain,
Which now esteems these works of fancy vain.
Let not thy childe, thee living, orphan be;
Who when thou art dead, will give a life to thee.

How many barren wits would gladly own,

How few o' the pregnantest own such another?
Thou Father art, yet blush to be known;
And though it may call the best of Muses Mother,
Yet thy severer judgement would it smother.
O judge not Thou, let Readers judge thy book:
Such Cates should rather please the Guest, then Cook.

O but thou fear it will stain the reverend gown

Thou wear now; nay then fear not to show it:
For were it a stain, 't were natures, not thy own:
For thou art Poet born; who know thee, know it:
Thy brother, sire, thy very name's a Poet.
Thy very name will make these Poems take,
These very Poems else thy name will make.

W. BENLOWES.
 TO
THE INGENIUS
COMPSER OF THIS
PASTORALL, THE
SPENCER of this age.

I Vow (sweet stranger) if my lazy quill

Had not been disobedient to fulfil
My quick desires, this glory which is thy,
Had but the Muses pleased had been mine.
My Genius jumped with thy ; the very same
Was our Foundation: in the very Frame
Thy Genius jumped with mine; it got the start
In nothing, but Priority, and Art.
If (my ingenious Rival) these dull times
Should want the present strength to prize thy rhymes,
The time-instructed children of the next
Shall fill thy margent, and admire the text;
Whose well read lines will teach the how to be
The happy knowers of themselves and thee.

FRAN. QUARLES.

TO THE UNKNOWN
Mr. P. F. UPON SURVAY
of his ISLE OF MAN.

Renowned Author, let it not seem strange

A Merchants eye should thus thy Island range:
It is a Merchants progress to surround
The earth, and seek out undiscovered ground.

What though my foot hath trod the fourfold shore?

And eyes surveyed their subdivided store?
Yet rarer wonders in this Isle of thy
I viewed this day, then in twice six years time.

Justly didst thou, great Macedo, repine

That thou could add no other world to thy.
He is not truly great, nor stout, who can
Curb the great world, and not the lesser, Man.

And 1thou whose name the Western world imposed

Upon it self, first by thy skill disclosed;
Yet is thy skill by this far overcome,
Who hath described an unknown World at home:
A World, which to search out, subdue, and till,
Is the best object of mans wit, strength, skill:
A World, where all may dangerless obtain
Without long travel, cheapest, greatest gain.

LOD. ROBERTS

ON THE MOST ACCU-

RATE POEM, INSCRIBED
THE PURPLE ISLAND.

Henceforth let wandering Delos cease to boast

Herself the God of Learning’s dearest coast;
And let that double-headed mountain hallow
No more the honoured name of great Apollo:
And may the Pegasean spring, that uses
To cheer the palates of the thirsty Muses,
Dry up: and let this happy Isle of thy
Preserve Apollo’s harp; where every line
Carries a Suada with it, and doth display
The banners of heaven-born Urania.
Henceforth let all the world thy verse admire
Before that Thracian Orpheus charming lyre:
He but enchanted Beasts, but to thy divine
And higher airs bring Deities to this Isle of thy.
A. C.

Man's Body's like a house: his greater bones

Are the main timber; and the lesser ones
Are smaller splints: his ribs are laths, daubed over,
Plastered with flesh, and blood: his mouth's the door,
His throat's the narrow entry, and his heart
Is the great chamber, full of curious art:
His midriff is a large partition-wall
'Twixt the great chamber, and the spacious hall:
His stomach is the kitchen, where the meat
Is often but half sod, for want of heat:
His spleen’s a vessel nature does allot
To take the scum that rises from the pot:
His lungs are like the bellows, that respire
In every office, quickening every fire:
His nose the chimney is, whereby are vented
Such fumes as with the bellows are augmented:
His bowels are the sink, whose part's to drain
All noisome filth, and keep the kitchen clean:
His eyes are crystal windows, clear and bright;
Let in the object, and let out the sight.
And as the timber is or great, or small,
Or strong or weak, 'tis apt to stand, or fall:
Yet is the likeliest building sometimes known
To fall by obvious chances; overthrown
Often by tempests, by the full-mouthed blasts
Of heaven; sometimes by fire; sometimes in wastes
Through unadvised neglect: put case the stuff
Were ruin-proof, by nature strong enough
To conquer time, and age; but case it should
Never know an end, alas our lives would.
What hast thou then, proud flesh and blood, to boast?
Thy days are evil, at best; but few, at most;
But sad, at merriest; and but weak, and strongest;
Unsure, at surest; and but short, at longest.

FRAN. QUARLES.

Der Greis und die drei jungen Leute

[201] Ein Achtzigjähriger pflanzte Bäume.

Drei Jünglinge der Nachbarschaft erklärten
Sein Tun für unverständige Narrenträume
Und lachten mit bezeichnenden Gebärden.
Sie riefen hin zum greisen Arbeitsamen:
»Was schafft Ihr da, in aller Götter Namen?
Es ging noch an, zu bauen, doch – zu pflanzen?
In Euren Jahren? Wollt Ihr noch erleben,
Daß Früchte Euch vom Baum zu Füßen tanzen?
Gott müßte Euch ein Patriarchenalter geben!
Was pflegt Ihr Sorge um zukünftge Zeit,
Die nicht mehr Eure ist? Gedenkt in Ruh
Der Irrtümer Eurer Vergangenheit.
Der Zukunft Sorge kommt uns Jungen zu.«
Der Greis erwiderte: »Nicht mehr als mir.
Gleichmäßig spielt der dunklen Parze Hand
Mit eurem wie mit meinem Lebensband.
Wir alle weilen nur ein Weilchen hier,
Und was wir tun, ob ich es tu, ob ihr,
Ist alles nur von flüchtigem Bestand.
Gibt's einen Augenblick denn, der uns schwört,
Daß noch ein zweiter lebend uns gehört?
Urenkel werden danken meinen Händen,
Wenn diese Bäumchen ihnen Labsal spenden.
Was klagt ihr, daß ich andern zum Vergnügen
Mir Mühe mache! Seht, ich müßte lügen,
Gestände ich nicht gern und freudig ein:
Lohn ist mir jene Hoffnung schon allein,
Sie ist schon Frucht; ich koste sie. Wer weiß,
Ob ich das Morgenrot nicht manchen Tag
[202] Noch über euren Gräbern zählen mag.«
Wie wahr gesprochen hatte doch der Greis!
Ertrunken ist der erste der drei Jungen,
Der plante, nach Amerika zu wandern,
Bereits im Hafen. Und die beiden andern
Hat gleichfalls jäh der Tod umschlungen:
Der zweite wollte Kriegesruhm erwerben
Und mußte früh durch eine Kugel sterben;
Der dritte stürzte von dem Baum herab,
Den er im Garten sich zum Pfropfen wählte.
Der Greis beweinte sie, und auf ihr Grab
Schrieb er die Lehre, die ich hier erzählte.

To the Little Girl Who Wriggles

Laura E. Richards

In which we learn to sit still.

Don't wriggle about anymore, my dear!

I'm sure all your joints must be sore, my dear!
It's wriggle and jiggle, it's twist and it's wiggle,
Like an eel on a shingly shore, my dear,
Like an eel on a shingly shore.

Oh! how do you think you would feel, my dear,

If you should turn into an eel, my dear?
With never an arm to protect you from harm,
And no sign of a toe or a heel, my dear,
No sign of a toe or a heel?

And what do you think you would do, my dear,

Far down in the water so blue, my dear,
Where the prawns and the shrimps, with their curls and their crimps,
Would turn up their noses at you, my dear,
Would turn up their noses at you?

The crab he would give you a nip, my dear,

And the lobster would lend you a clip, my dear.
And perhaps if a shark should come by in the dark,
Down his throat you might happen to slip, my dear,
Down his throat you might happen to slip.

Then try to sit still on your chair, my dear!

To your parents 'tis no more than fair, my dear.
For we really don't feel like inviting an eel
Our board and our lodging to share, my dear,
Our board and our lodging to share.

Opposing zodiac signs: themes of the six axes

Like the elements within any coherent structure, the zodiac signs relate to each other as
well as to the larger whole of the zodiac. Much thought has gone into what to make of the
opposing signs in astrology, those who face each other on the zodiac wheel and represent
opposite moments in seasonal time. Observation and theory has confirmed that opposite
signs do have a special relationship. While they possess qualities that are diametrically
opposed from one another, they share a similarity in form and seem to mirror and
complement each other to a great degree. This enables us to speak of the axis of any two
signs in opposition, making six axes in total of the twelve signs. While the concept itself is
uncontroversial, the precise nature of the different polarities has often been neglected or
not fully explained nor reflected upon. Also, some of the opposing sign axes seem to be
much more obvious than others, where the similarities and dissimilarities are concerned.
This article will discuss the six zodiac axes. Though "polarity" has yet another meaning
within astrology, here I will take it to mean the axis of any opposing pair of signs.

The Aries-Libra axis is the first and in many respects also the most obvious of the
polarities. The basic nature of the axis concerns the self and its projection out into the
world, and the adjustments that are made in facing and relating to other people. Crudely
put, Aries is the primitive, the egoist of simple, unguarded self-expression, while Libra is the
sophisticated diplomat. Put in another way, Aries is authentic, focused and true to the self,
while Libra can be inauthentic and vacillating. In reality, none of the two signs are less
concerned about the self, but make themselves heard in different ways. The issue also falls
on partnerships, where the need to define the identity in isolation meets wanting
reinforcement from and comparison with another. There is also the objective and impartial
discrimination of Libra and its complement in the subjective, individualized response of
Aries. The general themes of the axis are those of creating versus refining, leading versus
following, having one's way versus compromising, initiating versus completing,

The Taurus-Scorpio axis concerns the intensification and stabilization of the self and its
environment through the sensing and feeling nature. This pair relates to the organic cycle
and biological purpose of man, and develops further the concepts of finality, death, value
and worth at different levels. Both signs are preoccupied with focus, and the determination
to fully exhaust their potential within the boundaries they have set up for themselves. While
Taurus relates to the immediate physical environment, Scorpio relates to psychological
states and what is just beyond the scope of the senses. Taurus is practical and tries to
preserve and strengthen what is given to them, while Scorpio reaches inward striving for
transformation of the emotional being. The axis illuminates different yet mirroring aspects of
sensuality and sexuality. General themes are such as maintaining versus challenging,
tradition versus personal values, common sense pragmatism versus intuition, form versus
content.

The Gemini-Sagittarius opposition is one where the pair often seem to have more in
common than they are different. The axis concerns expansion and development of the
mental, moral and philosophical faculties, and the awareness of the diversity of human
nature. While Gemini is analytical and concerned with detail and nuance, Sagittarius is wise
and concerned with the big picture and generalities. Gemini explores with speed, impartial
curiosity and a sometimes shallow intellectuality, while Sagittarius passes judgements,
longs for insight and strives for an ideal. Both are mental and abstract, but Gemini usually
without a specific agenda. Themes are knowledge versus ethics, scepticism versus faith,
observing versus reflecting, detachment versus engagement, spontaneous learning versus
academia, travelling around versus journeying as a means for progress and growth.

The Cancer-Capricorn axis relates to nurturing of the emotional and physical

surroundings, and the necessary preparation and organization before committing the self to
any endeavour considered worthwhile. The pair also touches on mothering and fathering
energies inherent in our psyche, with Cancer representing classic "mother" energies of
nurture and care and Capricorn father symbols of authority and discipline. Where Cancer
find solace in the inner world of emotions and relies much on intuition, Capricorn strives for
functionality and is focused on effectively organizing and manipulating the physical world.
Cancer is personal and sentimental where Capricorn is formal, seeking detachment and
clear boundaries. Both signs are cautious and highly desirous of security. The axis themes
are emotion versus logic, home & family versus career, intention versus result, mother
versus father, roots and heritage versus now and here.

The Leo-Aquarius axis resembles Aries-Libra in that it concerns the Ego and the relation
of the self to other people, but is more intricate. Leo is about establishing a core self and
finding creative self-expression, while Aquarius is about the submergence of the mind or
the individual into a group or an idea while retaining a unique perspective. Leo seeks
complete self-integrity with the ideals of nobility and pride, while Aquarius decentralizes and
broadens consciousness in order to understand and observe different viewpoints and
behaviour. Both can be of stubborn and dogmatic mentality. While Leo wants to interact
with and permeate the given social order, Aquarius can be unconventional and eccentric,
refusing to accept limitation from the establishment. Leo is warm and exuberant while
Aquarius may be cold and disinterested. General themes are individual versus collective,
autocracy versus democracy, creativity and imagination versus truth and observation,
limelight versus backstage, egoism versus altruism, spontaneity versus reflection.

The Virgo-Pisces axis completes the polarities. It concerns self-sacrifice and the final
purpose of the human mind and being. The pair mirrors the basic split between tangible
and intangible and represents the restraint coming from being part of the external world
itself, and on the other hand from feeling part of something beyond it. The aim of Virgo is
the refinement of man and his everyday environment, while the elusive aim of Pisces is the
refinement of the soul and its place in a spiritual or imagined realm. While Virgo
differentiates and categorizes, Pisces unifies, muddles or makes abstract. Virgo is the
unselfish servant and instrument of the external world and everyday society while Pisces is
the unselfish servant of God or the champion of the underdog. Virgo is clear, petty and
precise, while Pisces is vague, forgiving and imaginative. General themes are
substantiation versus abstraction, analysis versus inspiration, detail versus wholeness,
clarification versus mystification, sobriety versus intoxication.

Comunque un'altra cosa pazzesca dell'anime è come Shinobu si salvi...

Nell'anime, a differenza che nel manga, mi pare di ricordare che quando Shinobu è
ferito in Russia viene infilzato come uno spiedino, quindi la baionetta gli trapassa il

torace da parte a parte... Molto strano che non sia stato leso alcun organo
vitale ed in ogni caso a quei tempi, in una misera baracca, senza medicinali...

La serie, sia pure semi-seria, presenta più elementi contraddittori:

 Quando parte per la Siberia, Shinobu veste la sua divisa militare. Anche in
periodi relativamente miti, in quelle regioni la temperatura è così rigida, che il
plotone non potrebbe sopravvivere senza equipaggiamento adeguato.
 Con grande dispiacere per gli amanti del sentimento, il colpo disegnato in
occasione del ferimento di Shinobu è letale. La baionetta gli attraversa palesemente
il torace nella parte sinistra. Il tenente non può essere sopravvissuto;
 La doppia identità sessuale di Ranmaru è parecchio agevolata dal disegno:
confrontando le due immagini del personaggio vestito da uomo e da donna, è
evidente che i lineamenti sono molto più delicati e aggraziati di quelli del ragazzo;

 Quando Anne si rende conto che il suo fidanzato potrebbe essere davvero
morto, tenta il suicidio in due modi. Quando si butta nella botte piena di vino, viene
raffigurata mentre trattiene il fiato: gli animatori hanno dimenticato che la persona
suicida, fa a meno anche di trattenerlo se vuole davvero morire..

Ha majd a nyaraknak vége…

 Ha majd a nyaraknak vége
S ellep mindent a hó
Hogy én mennyire szeretlek
Nincs is rá szó

Itt a sereg ideje

Az óra búcsút int
Hadnagy Úr s egy szép leány
Egymás ajkára csókot hint

Mihelyst leszáll az alkony

Messze megyek innen
Találkozunk még
S újra szép lesz minden

Kürt harsog a távolban

Összehívja a katonákat
Hazai dombokat, muskántlis ablakot
Talán többé sose látnak

Tábortűz parázslik
A lángoknak akác, s fenyő is akad
Mikor alszik már az ezred
A hadnagy tollat, s papírt ragad.

Érzi, hogy várja valaki

Tudja, hogy sír utána
Két kezét összekulcsolja
S csendben száll imája

Elnyomja a kürtszó
Elnyomják a harsogó dobok
Nem hallja már senki
Hogy otthon egy kislány zokog

A csatamezőn golyó fúródott

A hadnagy tüdejébe
Nem mehet ő már többé
A mátkája elébe
 Homlokán vizes rongy
Hófehéren fekszik az ágyban
S nem tekint már tova
Szabadon a messzi tájba

Doktor Úr, engedjen

Úgy sem tarthat vissza
Had harcoljak a hazában
A lelkem így még nem tiszta

Vérvörös az égbolt
A csatatéren egy fiú siránkozik
A falfehér hadnagy mellett
A kórházban egy pap imádkozik

Imája száll az égbe

De a legény nem hallja
Most már nem csak a teste
A lelke is föladja

Egy fehér borítékon

A hadnagy neve áll
Olvassa a kapitány
A jókedve elszáll

Mondjátok meg annak a lánynak

Ki e levelet írta
A hadnagya eltávozott
A tüdeje a golyót már nem bírta

Magányos tölgy szívébe

Van egy kicsi sírhant
Magába vitte a szerelmét
Hisz ott a hadnagy fekszik alant

Csendes kis házikóban

Meghalt egy gyönyörű leány
Éles kést szúrt szívébe
Úgy ment a hadnagy után.
 Édesanyám emlékkönyvében találtam rá az eredeti szövegre, majd kiderült, hogy a
Kárpátiának is van egy verziója...szóval a sokadik után itt az enyém.Fogadjátok sok
szeretettel:)

A trombitaszóra nyerítéssel felel; messzirõl megneszeli az ütközetet, a vezérek

lármáját és a csatazajt.

Ha majd a nyarunknak vége, csendesen szitál a hó,

Lennék még tenéked édes, lennék még tenéked jó.

Csendes kis legénylakásban, az óra búcsúra int,

Kívülről zajlik az utca, hangos az éljen szó kint.

Hallod, hogy fújják a kürtöt, hallod-e a zene szót?

Azt fújják előre, rajta, fújják már a riadót.

Borulj a vállamra kedves, estére másé lehetsz,

Estére indul az ezred, estére én is megyek.

Amikor leszáll az alkony, masíroz az ezredünk,

Csókolj meg mégegyszer édes, ki tudja hová megyünk.

Pislogó távoli tűznél, az ezred pihenni tér,

Nem tud aludni a hadnagy, papírt és ceruzát kér.

Otthon őt valaki várja, úgy hallja valaki sír,

Fejét a kezére hajtja, és aztán csendesen ír.

Másnap a kórházi ágyon, fekszik a hadnagy szegény,

Golyó ment a tüdejébe, életre nincs már remény.

Doktor úr szeretnék írni, magam sem tudom miért,

Szeretnék egy kislányt látni, aki tán nem is enyém.

Doktor úr az égre kérem, adja ki tiszti ruhám,

Nem fekszem többé az ágyon, megvédem magyar hazám.

Nem lehet, mondja az orvos, beteg még a hadnagy úr,

A hadnagy az éj leple alatt, kiszökött a kórházból.
 Vége van az ütközetnek, véresen száll le a Nap,
A hadnagy hordágya mellett, imádkozik már a pap.

Biztatja csendesen, halkan, a hadnagy nem hallja már,

A szíve lázasan dobban, s lelke a mennyekbe száll.

Levelet hozott a posta, ami a hadnagyról szólt,

A kapitány elolvasta, azután csendesen szólt.

Írjátok meg a leánynak, ne várja a hadnagyát,

Itt ássák örökös ágyát, itt ásták meg a sírját.

Csendesen leszáll az éjjel, megperdülnek a dobok,

Nem tudja senki, hogy otthon, valaki halkan zokog.

Csendes kis legénylakásban, meghalt egy gyönyörű lány,

Éles tőrt szúrt a szívébe, elment a hadnagy után.

"Yes, I'll never forget his cries that night, so utterly pitiful and childlike. I've heard many a
cry of pain, but in all my life nothing so heart-breaking as that boy in fevered delirium talking to
his mother. His voice is one of peculiar tenderness, penetrating and musical. It goes quivering
into your soul, and compels you to listen until you swear it's your brother or sweetheart or sister
or mother calling you. You should have seen him the day he fell. God of mercies, the pity and
the glory of it!"

Page 7

"Phil wrote me that he was a hero and asked me to look after him. Were you there?"

"Yes, with the battery your brother was supporting. He was the colonel of a shattered rebel
regiment lying just in front of us before Petersburg. Richmond was doomed, resistance was
madness, but there they were, ragged and half-starved, a handful of men not more than four
hundred, but their bayonets gleamed and flashed in the sunlight. In the face of a murderous fire,
he charged and actually drove our men out of an entrenchment. We concentrated our guns on
him as he crouched behind this earthwork. Our own men lay outside in scores, dead, dying, and
wounded. When the fire slacked, we could hear their cries for water.

"Suddenly this boy sprang on the breastwork. He was dressed in a new gray colonel's
uniform that mother of his, in the pride of her soul, had sent him.

"He was a handsome figure—tall, slender, straight, a gorgeous yellow sash tasselled with
gold around his waist, his sword flashing in the sun, his slouch hat cocked on one side and an
eagle's feather in it.
 "We thought he was going to lead another charge, but just as the battery was making
ready to fire, he deliberately walked down the embankment in a hail of musketry and began to
give water to our wounded men.

"Every gun ceased firing, and we watched him. He walked back to the trench, his naked
sword flashed suddenly above that eagle's feather, and his grizzled ragamuffins sprang forward
and charged us like so many demons.

Page 8

"There were not more than three hundred of them now, but on they came, giving that
hellish rebel yell at every jump-the cry of the hunter from the hilltop at the sight of his game! All
Southern men are hunters, and that cry was transformed in war into something unearthly when
it came from a hundred throats in chorus and the game was human.

"Of course, it was madness. We blew them down that hill like chaff before a hurricane.
When the last man had staggered back or fallen, on came this boy alone, carrying the colours
he had snatched from a falling soldier, as if he were leading a million men to victory.

"A bullet had blown his hat from his head, and we could see the blood streaming down the
side of his face. He charged straight into the jaws of one of our guns. And then, with a smile on
his lips and a dare to Death in his big brown eyes, he rammed that flag into the cannon's mouth,
reeled, and fell! A cheer broke from our men.

"Your brother sprang forward and caught him in his arms, and as we bent over the
unconscious form, he exclaimed: 'My God, doctor, look at him! He is so much like me I feel as if
I had been shot myself!' They were as much alike as twins—only his hair was darker. I tell you,
Miss Elsie, it's a sin to kill men like that. One such man is worth more to this Nation than every
negro that ever set his flat foot on this continent!"

The girl's eyes had grown dim as she listened to the story.

790. Killed at the Ford

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882)

HE is dead, the beautiful youth,

The heart of honor, the tongue of truth,
He, the life and light of us all,
Whose voice was blithe as a bugle-call,
5
Whom all eyes followed with one consent,
The cheer of whose laugh, and whose pleasant word,
Hushed all murmurs of discontent.

Only last night, as we rode along,

Down the dark of the mountain gap,
1
To visit the picket-guard at the ford, 0
Little dreaming of any mishap,
He was humming the words of some old song:
‘Two red roses he had on his cap
And another he bore at the point of his sword.’
1
Sudden and swift a whistling ball 5
Came out of a wood, and the voice was still;
Something I heard in the darkness fall,
And for a moment my blood grew chill;
I spake in a whisper, as he who speaks
2
In a room where some one is lying dead; 0
But he made no answer to what I said.

We lifted him up to his saddle again,

And through the mire and the mist and the rain
Carried him back to the silent camp,
2
And laid him as if asleep on his bed; 5
And I saw by the light of the surgeon’s lamp
Two white roses upon his cheeks,
And one, just over his heart, blood-red!

And I saw in a vision how far and fleet

3
That fatal bullet went speeding forth, 0
Till it reached a town in the distant North,
Till it reached a house in a sunny street,
Till it reached a heart that ceased to beat,
Without a murmur, without a cry;
3
And a bell was tolled, in that far-off town, 5
For one who had passed from cross to crown
And the neighbors wondered that she should die.