The　years　slip　from　me　and　have　not　fulfilled
  The　aspiration　of　my　youth；　to　build
  Some　tower　of　song　with　lofty　parapet。
  Not　indolence；　nor　pleasure；　nor　the　fret
  Of　restless　passions　chat　would　not　be　stilled；
  But　sorrow；　and　a　care　that　almost　killed；
  Kept　me　from　what　I　may　accomplish　yet；
  Though；　half　way　up　the　hill；　I　see　the　Past
  Lying　beneath　me　with　its　sounds　and　sights；
  A　city　in　the　twilight　dim　and　vast；
  With　smoking　roofs；　soft　bells；　and　gleaming　lights。
  And　hear　above　me　on　the　autumnal　blast
  The　cataract　of　Death　far　thundering　from　the　heights。
  THE　EVENING　STAR
  Lo！　in　the　painted　oriel　of　the　West；
  Whose　panes　the　sunken　sun　incarnadines；
  Like　a　fair　lady　at　her　casement；　shines
  The　evening　star；　the　star　of　love　and　rest！
  And　then　anon　she　doth　herself　divest
  Of　all　her　radiant　garments；　and　reclines
  Behind　the　sombre　screen　of　yonder　pines；
  With　slumber　and　soft　dreams　of　love　oppressed。
  O　my　beloved；　my　sweet　Hesperus！
  My　morning　and　my　evening　star　of　love！
  My　best　and　gentlest　lady！　even　thus；
  As　that　fair　planet　in　the　sky　above；
  Dost　thou　retire　unto　thy　rest　at　night；
  And　from　thy　darkened　window　fades　the　light。
  AUTUMN
  Thou　comest；　Autumn；　heralded　by　the　rain；
  With　banners；　by　great　gales　incessant　fanned；
  Brighter　than　brightest　silks　of　Samarcand；
  And　stately　oxen　harnessed　to　thy　wain！
  Thou　standest；　like　imperial　Charlemagne；
  Upon　thy　bridge　of　gold；　thy　royal　hand
  Outstretched　with　benedictions　o'er　the　land；
  Blessing　the　farms　through　all　thy　vast　domain！
  Thy　shield　is　the　red　harvest　moon；　suspended
  So　long　beneath　the　heaven's　o'er…hanging　eaves；
  Thy　steps　are　by　the　farmer's　prayers　attended；
  Like　flames　upon　an　altar　shine　the　sheaves；
  And；　following　thee；　in　thy　ovation　splendid；
  Thine　almoner；　the　wind；　scatters　the　golden　leaves！
  DANTE
  Tuscan；　that　wanderest　through　the　realms　of　gloom；
  With　thoughtful　pace；　and　sad；　majestic　eyes；
  Stern　thoughts　and　awful　from　thy　soul　arise；
  Like　Farinata　from　his　fiery　tomb。
  Thy　sacred　song　is　like　the　trump　of　doom；
  Yet　in　thy　heart　what　human　sympathies；
  What　soft　compassion　glows；　as　in　the　skies
  The　tender　stars　their　clouded　lamps　relume！
  Methinks　I　see　thee　stand；　with　pallid　cheeks；
  By　Fra　Hilario　in　his　diocese；
  As　up　the　convent…walls；　in　golden　streaks；
  The　ascending　sunbeams　mark　the　day's　decrease；
  And；　as　he　asks　what　there　the　stranger　seeks；
  Thy　voice　along　the　cloister　whispers；　〃Peace！〃
  CURFEW
  I。
  Solemnly；　mournfully；
  Dealing　its　dole；
  The　Curfew　Bell
  Is　beginning　to　toll。
  Cover　the　embers；
  And　put　out　the　light；
  Toil　comes　with　the　morning；
  And　rest　with　the　night。
  Dark　grow　the　windows；
  And　quenched　is　the　fire；
  Sound　fades　into　silence；
  All　footsteps　retire。
  No　voice　in　the　chambers；
  No　sound　in　the　hall！
  Sleep　and　oblivion
  Reign　over　all！
  II。
  The　book　is　completed；
  And　closed；　like　the　day；
  And　the　hand　that　has　written　it
  Lays　it　away。
  Dim　grow　its　fancies；
  Forgotten　they　lie；
  Like　coals　in　the　ashes；
  They　darken　and　die。
  Song　sinks　into　silence；
  The　story　is　told；
  The　windows　are　darkened；
  The　hearth…stone　is　cold。
  Darker　and　darker
  The　black　shadows　fall；
  Sleep　and　oblivion
  Reign　over　all。
  ************
  EVANGELINE
  A　TALE　OF　ACADIE
  This　is　the　forest　primeval。　　The　murmuring　pines　and　the
  hemlocks；
  Bearded　with　moss；　and　in　garments　green；　indistinct　in　the
  twilight；
  Stand　like　Druids　of　eld；　with　voices　sad　and　prophetic；
  Stand　like　harpers　hoar；　with　beards　that　rest　on　their　bosoms。
  Loud　from　its　rocky　caverns；　the　deep…voiced　neighboring　ocean
  Speaks；　and　in　accents　disconsolate　answers　the　wail　of　the
  forest。
  This　is　the　forest　primeval；　but　where　are　the　hearts　that
  beneath　it
  Leaped　like　the　roe；　when　he　hears　in　the　woodland　the　voice　of
  the　huntsman
  Where　is　the　thatch…roofed　village；　the　home　of　Acadian
  farmers；
  Men　whose　lives　glided　on　like　rivers　that　water　the　woodlands；
  Darkened　by　shadows　of　earth；　but　reflecting　an　image　of　heaven？
  Waste　are　those　pleasant　farms；　and　the　farmers　forever　departed！
  Scattered　like　dust　and　leaves；　when　the　mighty　blasts　of　October
  Seize　them；　and　whirl　them　aloft；　and　sprinkle　them　far　o'er　the
  ocean
  Naught　but　tradition　remains　of　the　beautiful　village　of
  Grand…Pre。
  Ye　who　believe　in　affection　that　hopes；　and　endures；　and　is
  patient；
  Ye　who　believe　in　the　beauty　and　strength　of　woman's　devotion；
  List　to　the　mournful　tradition　still　sung　by　the　pines　of　the
  forest；
  List　to　a　Tale　of　Love　in　Acadie；　home　of　the　happy。
  PART　THE　FIRST
  I
  In　the　Acadian　land；　on　the　shores　of　the　Basin　of　Minas；
  Distant；　secluded；　still；　the　little　village　of　Grand…Pre
  Lay　in　the　fruitful　valley。　　Vast　meadows　stretched　to　the
  eastward；
  Giving　the　village　its　name；　and　pasture　to　flocks　without
  number。
  Dikes；　that　the　hands　of　the　farmers　had　raised　with　labor
  incessant；
  Shut　out　the　turbulent　tides；　but　at　stated　seasons　the
  flood…gates
  Opened；　and　welcomed　the　sea　to　wander　at　will　o'er　the　meadows。
  West　and　south　there　were　fields　of　flax；　and　orchards　and
  cornfields
  Spreading　afar　and　unfenced　o'er　the　plain；　and　away　to　the
  northward
  Blomidon　rose；　and　the　forests　old；　and　aloft　on　the　mountains
  Sea…fogs　pitched　their　tents；　and　mists　from　the　mighty　Atlantic
  Looked　on　the　happy　valley；　but　ne'er　from　their　station
  descended
  There；　in　the　midst　of　its　farms；　reposed　the　Acadian　village。
  Strongly　built　were　the　houses；　with　frames　of　oak　and　of
  hemlock；
  Such　as　the　peasants　of　Normandy　built　in　the　reign　of　the
  Henries。
  Thatched　were　the　roofs；　with　dormer…windows；　and　gables
  projecting
  Over　the　basement　below　protected　and　shaded　the　doorway。
  There　in　the　tranquil　evenings　of　summer；　when　brightly　the
  sunset
  Lighted　the　village　street　and　gilded　the　vanes　on　the　chimneys；
  Matrons　and　maidens　sat　in　snow…white　caps　and　in　kirtles
  Scarlet　and　blue　and　green；　with　distaffs　spinning　the　golden
  Flax　for　the　gossiping　looms；　whose　noisy　shuttles　within　doors
  Mingled　their　sound　with　the　whir　of　the　wheels　and　the　songs　of
  the　maidens；
  Solemnly　down　the　street　came　the　parish　priest；　and　the　children
  Paused　in　their　play　to　kiss　the　hand　he　extended　to　bless　them。
  Reverend　walked　he　among　them；　and　up　rose　matrons　and　maidens；
  Hailing　his　slow　approach　with　words　of　affectionate　welcome。
  Then　came　the　laborers　home　from　the　field；　and　serenely　the　sun
  sank
  Down　to　his　rest；　and　twilight　prevailed。　　Anon　from　the　belfry
  Softly　the　Angelus　sounded；　and　over　the　roofs　of　the　village
  Columns　of　pale　blue　smoke；　like　clouds　of　incense　ascending；
  Rose　from　a　hundred　hearths；　the　homes　of　peace　and　contentment。
  Thus　dwelt　together　in　love　these　simple　Acadian　farmers；
  Dwelt　in　the　love　of　God　and　of　man。　　Alike　were　they　free　from
  Fear；　that　reigns　with　the　tyrant；　and　envy；　the　vice　of
  republics。
  Neither　locks　had　they　to　their　doors；　nor　bars　to　their　windows；
  But　their　dwellings　were　open　as　day　and　the　hearts　of　their
  owners；
  There　the　richest　was　poor；　and　the　poorest　lived　in　abundance。
  Somewhat　apart　from　the　village；　and　nearer　the　Basin　of　Minas；
  Benedict　Bellefontaine；　the　wealthiest　farmer　of　Grand…Pre；
  Dwelt　on　his　goodly　acres：　and　with　him；　directing　his　household；
  Gentle　Evangeline　lived；　his　child；　and　the　pride　of　the　village。
  Stalworth　and　stately　in　form　was　the　man　of　seventy　winters；
  Hearty　and　hale　was　he；　an　oak　that　is　covered　with　snow…flakes；
  White　as　the　snow　were　his　locks；　and　his　cheeks　as　brown　as　the
  oak…leaves。
  Fair　was　she　to　behold；　that　maiden　of　seventeen　summers。
  Black　were　her　eyes　as　the　berry　that　grows　on　the　thorn　by　the
  wayside；
  Black；　yet　how　softly　they　gleamed　beneath　the　brown　shade　of　her
  tresses！
  Sweet　was　her　breath　as　the　breath　of　kine　that　feed　in　the
  meadows。
  When　in　the　harvest　heat　she　bore　to　the　reapers　at　noontide
  Flagons　of　home…brewed　ale；　ah！　fair　in　sooth　was　the　maiden；
  Fairer　was　she　when；　on　Sunday　morn；　while　the　bell　from　its
  turret
  Sprinkled　with　holy　sounds　the　air；　as　the　priest　with　his　hyssop
  Sprinkles　the　congregation；　and　scatters　blessings　upon　them；
  Down　the　long　street　she　passed；　with　her　chaplet　of　beads　and
  her　missal；
  Wearing　her　Norman　cap　and　her　kirtle　of　blue；　and　the　ear…rings；
  Brought　in　the　olden　time　from　France；　and　since；　as　an　heirloom；
  Handed　down　from　mother　to　child；　through　long　generations。
  But　a　celestial　brightnessa　more　ethereal　beauty
  Shone　on　her　face　and　encircled　her　form；　when；　after　confession；
  Homeward　serenely　she　walked　with　God's