* * * * * EXPECTATION AND FULFILLMENT O'er Ocean, with a thousand masts, sails forth the stripling bold-- One boat, hard rescued from the deep, draws into port the old! * * * * * THE PROSELYTE MAKER "A little earth from out the Earth-and I The Earth will move:" so spake the Sage divine. Out of myself one little moment--try Myself to take:--succeed, and I am thine! * * * * * THE CONNECTING MEDIUM What to cement the lofty and the mean Does Nature?--What?--Place vanity between? * * * * * THE MORAL POET [This is an Epigram on Lavater's work, called "Pontius Pilatus, oder der Mensch in Allen Gestalten," etc.--TRANSLATOR.] "How poor a thing is man!" Alas, 'tis true I'd half forgot it--when I chanced on you! * * * * * THE SUBLIME THEME [Also on Lavater, and alluding to the "Jesus Messias, oder die Evangelien und Apostelgeschichte in Gesängen."--TRANSLATOR.] How God compassionates Mankind, thy muse, my friend, rehearses-- Compassion for the sins of Man!--What comfort for thy verses! * * * * * SCIENCE To some she is the Goddess great, to some the milch-cow of the field; Their care is but to calculate--what butter she will yield. * * * * * KANT AND HIS COMMENTATORS How many starvelings one rich man can nourish! When monarchs build, the rubbish-carriers flourish. * * * * * THE MAIDEN FROM AFAR (1796) Within a vale, each infant year, When earliest larks first carol free, To humble shepherds doth appear A wondrous maiden, fair to see. Not born within that lowly place-- From whence she wander'd, none could tell; Her parting footsteps left no trace, When once the maiden bade farewell. And blessèd was her presence there-- Each heart, expanding, grew more gay; Yet something loftier still than fair Kept man's familiar looks away. From fairy gardens, known to none, She brought mysterious fruits and flowers-- The things of some serener sun-- Some Nature more benign than ours. With each, her gifts the maiden shared-- To some the fruits, the flowers to some; Alike the young, the aged fared; Each bore a blessing back to home. Though every guest was welcome there, Yet some the maiden held more dear, And cull'd her rarest sweets whene'er She saw two hearts that loved draw near. * * * * * THE GLOVE (1797) A TALE