Yes, this is he who ruled a world of men As might some prophet of the elder day―― Brooding above the tempest and the fray With deep-eyed thought, and more than mortal ken. A power was his beyond the touch of art Or armed strength――his pure and mighty heart. * * * * * SHERIDAN. _From “For the Country.” (1897.) The Century Co._ QUIETLY, like a child That sinks in slumber mild, No pain or troubled thought his well-earned peace to mar, Sank into endless rest our thunder-bolt of war. Though his the power to smite Quick as the lightning’s light,―― His single arm an army, and his name a host,―― Not his the love of blood, the warrior’s cruel boast. But in the battle’s flame How glorious he came!―― Even like a white-combed wave that breaks and tears the shore, While wreck lies strewn behind, and terror flies before. ’Twas he,――his voice, his might,―― Could stay the panic flight, Alone shame back the headlong, many-leagued retreat, And turn to evening triumph morning’s foul defeat. He was our modern Mars; Yet firm his faith that wars Ere long would cease to vex the sad, ensanguined earth, And peace forever reign, as at Christ’s holy birth. Blest land, in whose dark hour Arise to loftiest power No dazzlers of the sword to play the tyrant’s part, But patriot-soldiers, true and pure and high of heart! Of such our chief of all; And he who broke the wall Of civil strife in twain, no more to build or mend; And he who hath this day made Death his faithful friend. And now above his tomb From out the eternal gloom “Welcome!” his ♦chieftain’s voice sounds o’er the cannon’s knell; And of the three one only stays to say “Farewell!” ♦ “chiftain’s” replaced with “chieftain’s” * * * * * SUNSET FROM THE TRAIN.¹ _From “Five Books of Song” (1894)._ BUT then the sunset smiled, Smiled once and turned toward dark, Above the distant, wavering line of trees that filed Along the horizon’s edge; Like hooded monks that hark Through evening air The call to prayer;―― Smiled once, and faded slow, slow, slow away; When, like a changing dream, the long cloud-wedge, Brown-gray, Grew saffron underneath and, ere I knew, The interspace, green-blue―― The whole, illimitable, western, skyey shore, The tender, human, silent sunset smiled once more.