INTRODUCTORY STANZAS. THE THEMES OF SONG. Of truth, of grandeur, beauty, love, and hope, WORDSWORTH. WHERE shall the minstrel find a theme? -Where'er, for freedom shed, Brave blood hath dyed some ancient stream, Amidst the mountains, red. Where'er a rock, a fount, a grove, Bears record to the faith Of love, deep, holy, fervent love, Victor o'er fear and death. Where'er a chieftain's crested brow Too soon hath been struck down, Or a bright virgin head laid low, Where'er a spire points up to heaven, Through storm and summer air, Telling, that all around have striven Man's heart, and hope, and prayer. Where'er a blessed Home hath been, A place of ivy, darkly green, Where'er, by some forsaken grave, Some nameless greensward heap, A bird may sing, a wild flower wave, A star its vigil keep. THE THEMES OF SONG. Or where a yearning heart of old, A dream of shepherd men, With forms of more than earthly mould There may the bard's high themes be found -We die, we pass away: But faith, love, pity-these are bound To earth without decay. The heart that burns, the cheek that glows, The tear from hidden springs, The thorn and glory of the rose— These are undying things. Wave after wave of mighty stream To the deep sea hath gone: Yet not the less, like youth's bright dream, RHINE SONG OF THE GERMAN SOLDIERS AFTER VICTORY. “I wish you could have heard Sir Walter Scott describe a glorious sight, which had been witnessed by a friend of his !— the crossing of the Rhine, at Ehrenbreitstein, by the German army of Liberators on their victorious return from France. At the first gleam of the river,' he said, they all burst forth into the national chaunt, Am Rhein ! Am Rhein !' They were two days passing over; and the rocks and the castle were ringing to the song the whole time ;-for each band renewed it while crossing; and the Cossacks, with the clash and the clang, and the roll of their stormy war-music, catching the enthusiasm of the scene, swelled forth the chorus, Am Rhein ! Am Rhein !"-MANUSCRIPT LETTER. |