"
Outside still fell the smothering snow.
Outside still fell the smothering snow.
Hugo - Poems
But still warm love
Kept those that rose all dastard fear above,
As on his tent they saw his shadow pass--
Backwards and forwards, for they credited, alas!
His fortune's star! it could not, could not be
That he had not his work to do--a destiny?
To hurl him headlong from his high estate,
Would be high treason in his bondman, Fate.
But all the while he felt himself alone,
Stunned with disasters few have ever known.
Sudden, a fear came o'er his troubled soul,
What more was written on the Future's scroll?
Was this an expiation? It must be, yea!
He turned to God for one enlightening ray.
"Is this the vengeance, Lord of Hosts? " he sighed,
But the first murmur on his parched lips died.
"Is this the vengeance? Must my glory set? "
A pause: his name was called; of flame a jet
Sprang in the darkness;--a Voice answered; "No!
Not yet.
"
Outside still fell the smothering snow.
Was it a voice indeed? or but a dream?
It was the vulture's, but how like the _sea-bird's scream. _
TORU DUTT.
THE OCEAN'S SONG.
_("Nous nous promenions a Rozel-Tower. ")_
[Bk. VI. iv. , October, 1852. ]
We walked amongst the ruins famed in story
Of Rozel-Tower,
And saw the boundless waters stretch in glory
And heave in power.
O ocean vast! we heard thy song with wonder,
Whilst waves marked time.
"Appeal, O Truth! " thou sang'st with tone of thunder,
"And shine sublime!
Kept those that rose all dastard fear above,
As on his tent they saw his shadow pass--
Backwards and forwards, for they credited, alas!
His fortune's star! it could not, could not be
That he had not his work to do--a destiny?
To hurl him headlong from his high estate,
Would be high treason in his bondman, Fate.
But all the while he felt himself alone,
Stunned with disasters few have ever known.
Sudden, a fear came o'er his troubled soul,
What more was written on the Future's scroll?
Was this an expiation? It must be, yea!
He turned to God for one enlightening ray.
"Is this the vengeance, Lord of Hosts? " he sighed,
But the first murmur on his parched lips died.
"Is this the vengeance? Must my glory set? "
A pause: his name was called; of flame a jet
Sprang in the darkness;--a Voice answered; "No!
Not yet.
"
Outside still fell the smothering snow.
Was it a voice indeed? or but a dream?
It was the vulture's, but how like the _sea-bird's scream. _
TORU DUTT.
THE OCEAN'S SONG.
_("Nous nous promenions a Rozel-Tower. ")_
[Bk. VI. iv. , October, 1852. ]
We walked amongst the ruins famed in story
Of Rozel-Tower,
And saw the boundless waters stretch in glory
And heave in power.
O ocean vast! we heard thy song with wonder,
Whilst waves marked time.
"Appeal, O Truth! " thou sang'st with tone of thunder,
"And shine sublime!
