580 JAMES CLERK MAXWELL. 



But not to tell of these is now my task, 

 Nor yet of humming-tops, whose lengthened neck, 

 With packthread bound, and handle placed above, 

 Amuses little children. Not of these, 

 But of the pearie, chief of all his tribe, 

 Do I now sing. He with a sudden bound 

 From out his station in the player's hand 

 Descends like Maia's son, on one foot poised, 

 And utters gentle music circling round, 

 Till in the centre of the ring it sleeps. 



When lo, as in the bright blue vault of heaven 

 A falcon, towering in his pride of place 

 Perceives from far a partridge on the wing, 

 And stoops to seize him, even so comes down 

 Another pearie, and as when the sword 

 Of faithful Abdiel struck the apostate's crest 

 And " sent him reeling back ten paces huge," 

 So reeled the former pearie, nor can stand 

 The latter's iron peg, and more come down; 

 Innumerable hosts of pearies, armed 

 With dire destructive steel. The players shout ; 

 It is the shout of battle ; the loud cry 

 Of victors rushing to the spoil ; the wail 

 Of ruined boys, their pearie split, and all, 

 All lost. 



Thus wags this ever-changing world, 

 And we may morals from the pearie draw. 



(NATHALOCUS.) 



I. Jan. 1845. 



BLEAK was the pathway and barren the mountain, 

 As the traveller passed on his wearisome way ; 



Sealed by the frost was each murmuring fountain, 



And the sun shone through mist with a blood-coloured ray. 



But neither the road nor the danger together, 



Could alter his purpose, nor yet the rough weather ; 



So on went the wayfarer through the thick heather, 

 Till he came to the cave where the dread witches stav. 



