The Iris, a Literary and Religious Offering, Ed. by T. Dale

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1831. Excerpt: ... VI. And oft your willing vows renew around the sacred board, And break the bread and pour the wine in memory of your Lord: To drink with me the grape's fresh blood to you shall yet be given, Fresh from the deathless Vine that blooms in blest abodes of Heaven! And what should I do in Illyria? My brother, --he is in Elysium. Shakspkarx. I. Brother! thou art come from the land of the blest; Thou art come from the place of thy spirit's rest! Thou art come, thou art come, dear brother, for me; O! give me thy wings, and I too shall be free! II. I have wandered indeed, an Angel-guest, To earth--from the land of the spirit's rest; I am come, dear brother, --but not for thee, For thine still is the chain of mortality. III. ' How radiant thy hair, with its golden hue! How bright beams thine eye of Heaven's own blue! And it looks as if never a tear-drop laid Upon the soft fringe of its silken shade. IV. Brother! I have been beyond that bright sky, Where no tear is shed--where is heard no sigh;--Know--these belong to the mortal coil--To earth, and her children of care and toil. V. Ah! why did thy lingering spirit not wait At the portal of heaven--at its golden gate 1 I have wept--I have watched--I have waited for thee; Then give me thy wings--let me soar, and be free! VI. I may not, I may not;--far stronger the wing On which thy freed spirit hereafter shall spring;--On the pinion of Faith, it shall purified soar--The ransomed of earth--and her pilgrim no more. INSCRIPTION ON A BURIAL-GROUND. 'The resting-place of the Dead, waiting for the Living.' BY W. M. IIETHERINGTON, A. M. I. Here rest the dead! silent and deep, And dark and narrow is their home; Here their long lonesome vigils keep, Waiting but till the living come: Morn dawns not in its beauty here, ...