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home； rest； joy； were offered As sacrifice to Fame。 They longed that in far
ages Their deeds might still be told； And distant times and nations Their
names in honour hold。
The Spirit of the Present。
Though nursed by such old legends； Our heroes of to…day Go
cheerfully to battle As children go to play； They gaze with awe and
wonder On your great names of pride； Unconscious that their own will
shine In glory side by side！
Day dawned； and as the Spirits passed away； Methought I saw； in the
dim morning grey； The Past's bright diadem had paled before The starry
crown the glorious Present wore。
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VERSE： A LITTLE LONGER
A little longer yeta little longer； Shall violets bloom for thee； and
sweet birds sing； And the lime branches where soft winds are blowing；
Shall murmur the sweet promise of the Spring！
A little longer yeta little longer； Thou shalt behold the quiet of the
morn； While tender grasses and awakening flowers Send up a golden mist
to greet the dawn！
A little longer yeta little longer； The tenderness of twilight shall be
thine； The rosy clouds that float o'er dying daylight； Nor fade till trembling
stars begin to shine。
A little longer yeta little longer； Shall starry night be beautiful for
thee； And the cold moon shall look through the blue silence； Flooding her
silver path upon the sea。
A little longer yeta little longer； Life shall be thine； life with its
power to will； Life with its strength to bear； to love； to conquer； Bringing
its thousand joys thy heart to fill。
A little longer yeta little longer； The voices thou hast loved shall
charm thine ear； And thy true heart； that now beats quick to hear them； A
little longer yet shall hold them dear。
A little longer yetjoy while thou mayest； Love and rejoice！ for time
has nought in store； And soon the darkness of the grave shall bid thee
Love and rejoice and feel and know no more。
* * *
A little longer stillPatience； Beloved： A little longer still； ere Heaven
unroll The Glory； and the Brightness； and the Wonder； Eternal； and divine；
that waits thy Soul！
A little longer ere Life true； immortal； （Not this our shadowy Life；）
will be thine own； And thou shalt stand where winged Archangels worship；
And trembling bow before the Great White Throne。
A little longer still； and Heaven awaits thee； And fills thy spirit with a
great delight； Then our pale joys will seem a dream forgotten； Our Sun a
darkness； and our Day a Night。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
A little longer； and thy Heart； Beloved； Shall beat for ever with a Love
divine； And joy so pure； so mighty； so eternal； No creature knows and
lives； will then be thine。
A little longer yetand angel voices Shall ring in heavenly chant upon
thine ear； Angels and Saints await thee； and God needs thee： Beloved； can
we bid thee linger here！
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： GRIEF
An ancient enemy have I； And either he or I must die； For he never
leaveth me； Never gives my soul relief； Never lets my sorrow cease； Never
gives my spirit peace … For mine enemy is Grief！
Pale he is； and sad and stern； And whene'er he cometh nigh； Blue and
dim the torches burn； Pale and shrunk the roses turn； While my heart that
he has pierced Many a time with fiery lance； Beats and trembles at his
glance： Clad in burning steel is he； All my strength he can defy； For he
never leaveth me … And one of us must die！
I have said； 〃Let ancient sages Charm me from my thoughts of pain！〃
So I read their deepest pages； And I strove to thinkin vain！ Wisdom's
cold calm words I tried； But he was seated by my side：… Learning I have
won in vain； She cannot rid me of my pain。
When at last soft sleep comes o'er me； A cold hand is on my heart；
Stern sad eyes are there before me； Not in dreams will he depart： And
when the same dreary vision From my weary brain has fled； Daylight
brings the living phantom； He is seated by my bed； Bending o'er me all the
while； With his cruel； bitter smile； Ever with me； ever nigh； … And either he
or I must die！
Then I said； long time ago； 〃I will flee to other climes； I will leave
mine ancient foe！〃 Though I wandered far and wide … Still he followed at
my side。
And I fled where the blue waters Bathe the sunny isles of Greece；
Where Thessalian mountains rise Up against the purple skies； Where a
haunting memory liveth In each wood and cave and rill； But no dream of
gods could help me … He went with me still！
I have been where Nile's broad river Flows upon the burning sand；
Where the desert monster broodeth； Where the Eastern palm…trees stand； I
have been where pathless forests Spread a black eternal shade； Where the
lurking panther hiding Glares from every tangled glade； But in vain I
wandered wide； He was always by my side！ Then I fled where snows
eternal Cold and dreary ever lie； Where the rosy lightnings gleam；
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Flashing through the northern sky； Where the red sun turns again Back
upon his path of pain； … But a shadowy form was with me … I had fled in
vain！
I have thought； 〃If I can gaze Sternly on him he will fade； For I know
that he is nothing But a dim ideal shade。〃 As I gazed at him the more； He
grew stronger than before！
Then I said； 〃Mine arm is strong； I will make him turn and flee：〃 I
have struggled with him long … But that could never be！
Once I battled with him so That I thought I laid him low； Then in
trembling joy I fled； While again and still again Murmuring to myself I
sai