Part 64

FENNEL.... Strength.

Oh, fear not in a world like this, And thou shalt know ere long, Know how sublime a thing it is, To suffer and grow strong.

Longfellow.

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As the slow beast with heavy strength indued In some wide field by troops of boys pursued, Though round his sides a wooden tempest rain, Crops the tall harvest, and lays waste the plain; Thick on his hide the hollow blows resound, The patient animal maintains his ground, Scarce from the field with all their efforts chased, And stirs but slowly when he stirs at last. On Ajax thus a weight of Trojans hung, The strokes redoubled on his buckler rung; Confiding now in bulky strength he stands, Now turns, and backward bears the yielding bands: Now stiff recedes, yet hardly seems to fly, And threats his followers with retorted eye. Fixed as the bar between two warring powers, While hissing darts descend in iron showers: In his broad buckler many a weapon stood, Its surface bristled with a quivering wood; And many a javelin, guiltless, on the plain Marks the dry dust, and thirsts for blood in vain.

Pope.

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Thrice sounds the clarion; lo! the signal falls, The den expands, and expectation mute Gapes round the silent circle’s peopled walls. Bounds with one lashing spring the mighty brute, And, wildly staring, spurns, with sounding foot, The sand, nor blindly rushes on his foe: Here, there, he points his threatening front, to suit His first attack, wide waving to and fro His angry tail; red rolls his eye’s dilated glow.

Byron.

* * * * *

The lusty strength of youth Is better far than proud decrepitude. With mind and might and fortitude endued, We stand erect and fight for present truth. We’re in the young delight of new existence; The ardent blood leaps lively in our veins; The dim traditions glimmering in the distance We scorn, for objects worthier manly pains.

MacKellar.

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He that of such a height hath built his mind, And reared the dwelling of his thoughts so strong, As neither fear nor hope can shake the frame Of his resolved powers; nor do all the wind Of vanity or malice pierce to wrong His settled peace, or to disturb the same: What a fair seat hath he, from whence he may The boundless wastes and weilds of man survey!

Daniel.

COXCOMB.... Singularity.

Go then, and if you can, admire the state Of beaming diamonds, and reflected plate; Procure a taste to double the surprise, And gaze on Parian charms with learned eyes: Be struck with bright brocade, or Tyrian dye, Or birth-day nobles’ splendid livery.

Pope.

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He also had a quality uncommon To early risers after a long chase, Who wake in winter ere the cock can summon December’s drowsy day to his dull race,-- A quality agreeable to woman, When her soft liquid words run on apace, Who likes a listener, whether saint or sinner,-- He did not fall asleep just after dinner; But, light and airy, stood on the alert, And shone in the best part of dialogue, By humouring always what they might assert, And listening to the topics most in vogue; Now grave, now gay, but never dull or pert; And smiling but in secret--cunning rogue! He ne’er presumed to make an error clearer; In short, there never was a better hearer.

Byron.

GRASS.... Submission.

According to the Greek historians, Grass was made the symbol of submission, because the ancient nations of the West gathered Grass and presented it to the conqueror, to show that they confessed themselves overcome. The grass is trodden under foot by imperial man; and, instead of returning to its former vigour with elastic spring, or punishing its violator like the nettle, yields to its fate--spiritless submission.

* * * * *

It grieves me to the soul To see how man submits to man’s control; How overpowered and shackled minds are led In vulgar tracks, and to submission bred.

Crabbe.

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You shall be as a father to my youth, My voice shall sound as you do prompt mine ear; And I will stoop and humble my intents To your well practised, wise directions.