Now as she stooped amid the crowd, Stooped to remove a galling stone, She heard a shouting rash and loud; She raised her head--the launch was gone. O dame! as thou art such are they Who after years of care and cost, The burning hope of many a day By one ignoble stoop have lost. THE LOST FISH. "Ah!" cries the boy, "was never seen A fish like that which broke my rod, Such weight, such breadth of scaly sheen, A sucking whale he might have been, A grampus or Newfoundland cod." Thus in our aims we all are boys, And Fortune's present grace abuse; For, ever of all earthly toys, Love, honours, triumph, gain, or joys, The richest is the one we lose. [Illustration] STRIKING THE TENT. This quaint round bower, this sheltering canvas cave, In which we ate and slept, and prayed, and planned, Falls in a moment, when to yonder slave Expectant of the sign my hand I wave, All limp and shapeless on the desert sand. Depart in peace, O wanderer of Useit! Rejoicing in thy strength the mountain tread, Yet never may'st thou this memento slight; Erect to-day for labour and delight, To-morrow prone among the dusty dead. THE TURKISH BRIDGE. Whene'er we saw the arches gleam, We shouted trending down the ridge, "Better by far to ford the stream, Than trust the doubtful Turkish bridge." Such, are false promises believed; Such, confidence and love betrayed; Such those who having once deceived A warning offer, not an aid. THE CROCODILE. This monstrous Effet on the solid ground Right on and on can work his easy way, But in his cramping plates of armour bound, Slowly and sorely wheels his length around, And so eludes him every nimble prey. So have we known through prejudice and use, A mind that crawls in one pernicious groove, A dreary tunnel with the narrowest views, A cumbrous mind inflexibly obtuse, Which reason cannot turn nor feeling move. [Illustration] THE MOUNTAINS OF EL TIH. The pilgrim on the bleached El Tih Stares at the rocky wall awhile, Nor through the shadeless glare can see, Rift, pathway, or defile. Yet, just one burning corner past, Behold the glittering cliffs dispart; He finds himself ascending fast Into the mountain's heart. When troubles thus a barrier raise, Oh, yield not to despair or wrath, Press for the turn; by His own ways Great God will show the path. DAMASCUS IN THE EVENING. The dream of an enchanted home Set in an emerald frame, Peach bloom, and topaz walls, and dome, And minarets of flame; So the great city flashed on us, Descending Antilibanus. From lower slopes a change we see; The towers, like white-stoled maids, All bleached to purest ivory, Arise from purple shades: So the great city smiled on us, Descending Antilibanus.