FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132  
133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   >>   >|  
foreign far land Whose arms should now have set me free; And I must wear the willow garland For him that's dead or false to me.' 'Nay! say not that his faith is tainted!' He raised his vizor--at the sight She fell into his arms and fainted; It was indeed her own true knight! _T. Campbell_ CVII _THE COUNCIL OF HORSES_ Upon a time a neighing steed, Who graz'd among a numerous breed, With mutiny had fired the train, And spread dissension through the plain On matters that concern'd the state, The council met in grand debate. A colt whose eyeballs flamed with ire, Elate with strength and youthful fire, In haste stept forth before the rest, And thus the listening throng address'd. 'Goodness, how abject is our race, Condemn'd to slavery and disgrace! Shall we our servitude retain, Because our sires have borne the chain? Consider, friends! your strength and might; 'Tis conquest to assert your right. How cumbrous is the gilded coach! The pride of man is our reproach. Were we design'd for daily toil, To drag the ploughshare through the soil, To sweat in harness through the road, To groan beneath the carrier's load? How feeble are the two-legg'd kind! What force is in our nerves combin'd! Shall then our nobler jaws submit To foam and champ the galling bit? Shall haughty man my back bestride? Shall the sharp spur provoke my side? Forbid it, heavens! reject the rein; Your shame, your infamy, disdain. Let him the lion first control, And still the tiger's famish'd growl. Let us, like them, our freedom claim, And make him tremble at our name.' A general nod approv'd the cause, And all the circle neigh'd applause. When, lo! with grave and solemn pace, A steed advanc'd before the race, With age and long experience wise; Around he cast his thoughtful eyes, And, to the murmurs of the train, Thus spoke the Nestor of the plain. 'When I had health and strength like you The toils of servitude I knew; Now grateful man rewards my pains, And gives me all these wide domains. At will I crop the year's increase; My latter life is rest and peace. I grant, to man we lend our pains, And aid him to correct the plains; But doth not he divide the care, Th
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132  
133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

strength

 

servitude

 
correct
 

Forbid

 

beneath

 
plains
 

provoke

 
carrier
 
heavens
 

disdain


infamy
 

reject

 

bestride

 

nerves

 

divide

 

combin

 

nobler

 

galling

 

control

 
haughty

feeble
 

submit

 

rewards

 
experience
 
advanc
 

solemn

 

Around

 
grateful
 

health

 

Nestor


thoughtful
 

murmurs

 

applause

 
freedom
 

increase

 

famish

 

tremble

 

circle

 

domains

 
approv

general

 
assert
 

Campbell

 
COUNCIL
 
knight
 

HORSES

 
mutiny
 

spread

 

dissension

 
numerous