Edinburgh: T. and A. CONSTABLE, Printers to His Majesty

DEDICATION

Before a midnight breaks in storm,

Or herded sea in wrath,

Ye know what wavering gusts inform

The greater tempesť's path ;

Till the loosed wind

Drive all from mind,

F4

Except Distress, which, so will prophets cry,
O'ercame them, houseless, from the unhinting sky.

Ere rivers league against the land

In piratry of flood,

Ye know what waters slip and stand

Where seldom water stood.

Yet who will note,

Till fields afloat,

And washen carcass and the returning well,
Trumpet what these poor heralds strove to tell?

Ye know who use the Crystal Ball
(To peer by stealth on Doom),
The Shade that, shaping first of all,
Prepares an empty room.

1903

UNDERGRAD.
LIBRARY

Then doth It pass

Like breath from glass,

But, on the extorted vision bowed intent,
No man considers why It came or went.

Before the years reborn behold
Themselves with stranger eye,
And the sport-making Gods of old,
Like Samson slaying, die,

Many shall hear

The all-pregnant sphere,

Bow to the birth and sweat, but-speech denied--
Sit dumb or-dealt in part-fall weak and wide.

Yet instant to fore-shadowed need

The eternal balance swings;
That winged men the Fates may breed
So soon as Fate hath wings.

These shall possess

Our littleness,

And in the imperial task (as worthy) lay

Up our lives' all to piece one giant day.

CONTENTS

DEDICATION

Before a midnight breaks in storm,

THE SEA AND THE HILLS

Who hath desired the Sea?-the sight of salt

PAGE

V

I

4

As our mother the Frigate, be painted and fine,

8