97 
Ay,—father!—I have had those earthly visions 
And nohle aspirations in my youth, 
To make my own the mind of other men, 
The enlightener of nations: and to rise 
I knew not whither—it might be to fall; 
But fall, even as the mountain cataract, 
Which having leapt from its more dazzling height, 
Even in the foaming strength of its abyss, 
Lies low but mighty still.—But this is past, 
My thoughts mistook themselves. 
Byron. 
I loved to hear the war-horn cry, 
And panted at the drum’s deep roll; 
And held my breath, when—flaming high— 
I saw our starry banners fly, 
As, challenging the haughty sky, 
They went like battle o’er my soul; 
For I was so ambitious then, 
I burned to be the slave—of men. 
John Neal. 
% 
Know thou ambition is a restless flame, 
Which ever strives to reach the high-placed stars! 
Peerbold. 
Ambition takes a thousand shapes among 
Our race of Time’s most valued toys, and yet 
In court, in camp, in school, and mid the buzz 
Of eager trade her spirit is the same. 
C. Watson. 
7 
