[Gutenberg 56521] • Poems from Eastern Sources: / The Steadfast Prince and Other Poems

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to [www.million-books.com](http://www.million-books.com) where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE EASTERN NARCISSUS. Thou art the fox, O man, that, maugre all His cunning, did into the water fall. This fox was travelling once o'er hill and dell, And reached at length the margin of a well; His head he stooped into the well, when, lo Another fox did in the water show. He winks, he nods?the other fox replies: " What, ho we must be better friends," he cries; And more acquaintance covetous to win, Without more thought jumped Reynard headlong in. He reached the bottom at a single bound, But there no fox beside himself he found: Upward again he now would gladly spring, But to ascend was no such easy thing. He splashes, struggles, and in sad voice cries, " Fool that I was I deemed myself more wise. Ah wretch will no one come unto my aid ?"? But prayer and effort both were vainly made: Soon did the water drag him down to death; With a loud cry he sank the waves beneath. Thou art the fox of which the fable tells? This world of sense the Devil's well of wells. Thou saw'st reflected thine own image there, And didst plunge headlong in without a care. Oh happy if thou struggle back to-day, Ere the strong whirlpool drags thee down for aye. THE SEASONS. I. WINTER. White ermine now the mountains wear, To shield their naked shoulders bare. The dark pine wears the snow, as head Of Ethiop doth white turban wear. m. The floods are armed with silver shields, Through which the Sun's sword cannot fare; For he who trod heaven's middle road In golden arms, on golden chair, Now through small corner of the sky Creeps low, nor warms the foggy air. To mutter 'twixt their teeth the streams, In icy fetters, scarcely dare. Hushed is the busy hum of life; 'Tis silence in the earth and air. Tin. From mountains issues the gaunt wolf, ...