CLASSICAL MODERN POETRY. 163 



The seasons came and went, and went and came, 

 To teach men gratitude; and as they passed, 

 Gave warning of the lapse of time, that else 

 Had stolen unheeded by. The gentle flowers 

 Reared, and stooping o'er the wilderness, 

 Talked of humility and peace and love. 

 The dews came down unseen at evening-tide, 

 And silently their bounties shed, to teach 

 Mankind unostentatious charity. 

 With arm in arm, the forest rose on high 

 And lesson gave of brotherly regard. 

 And on the rugged mountain-brow exposed, 

 Bearing the blast alone, the ancient oak 

 Stood lifting his mighty arm, and still 

 To courage in distress exhorted loud. 

 The flocks, the herds, the birds, the streams, the breeze, 

 Attuned the heart to melody and love. 

 Mercy stood in the cloud with eye that wept 

 Essential love ! and from her glorious bow- 

 Bending to kiss the earth in token of peace, 

 With her own lips, her gracious lips, which God 

 Of sweetest accent made, she whispered still, 

 She whispered to Revenge, Forgive, forgive. 

 The sun rejoicing round the earth, announced 

 Daily the wisdom, power, and love of God. 

 The moon awoke, and from her maiden face, 

 Shedding her cloudy locks, looked meekly forth, 

 And with her virgin stars walked in the heavens, 

 Walked nightly there, conversing, as she walked, 

 Of purity and holiness and God. 

 In dreams and visions, sleep instructed much. 

 Day uttered speech to day, and night to night 

 Taught knowledge. Silence had a tongue ; the grave, 

 The darkness, and the lonely waste, had each 

 A tongue, that ever said, Man ! think of God ! 

 Think of thyself! think of eternity! 

 Fear God, the thunders said. Fear God, the waves. 

 Fear God, the lightning of the storm replied. 

 Fear God, deep loudly answered back to deep. 



POLLOK. 



