CHARLES MACKAY SCOTLAND, 1814-1889 Tubal Cain Old Tubal Cain was a man of might, 5 And he lifted high his brawny hand 10 Till the sparks rushed out in scarlet showers, Hurrah for the Spear and the Sword! Hurrah for the hand that shall wield them well, For he shall be king and lord!" To Tubal Cain came many a one, As he wrought by his roaring fire, 15 And each one prayed for a strong steel blade As the crown of his desire. And he made them weapons sharp and strong, Till they shouted loud for glee, And gave him gifts of pearls and gold, 20 And spoils of the forest free. And they sang: "Hurrah for Tubal Cain, Who hath given us strength anew! TUBAL CAIN Hurrah for the smith, hurrah for the fire, But a sudden change came o'er his heart, And Tubal Cain was filled with pain For the evil he had done; He saw that men, with rage and hate, Made war upon their kind; That the land was red with the blood they shed, And he said: "Alas! that ever I made, Or that skill of mine should plan, The spear and the sword for men whose joy And for many a day old Tubal Cain Sat brooding o'er his woe; And his hand forbore to smite the ore, And his furnace smoldered low. But he rose at last with a cheerful face, And a bright, courageous eye, And bared his strong right arm for work, And he sang: "Hurrah for my As the red sparks lit the air; handiwork!" "Not alone for the blade was the bright steel made," As he fashioned the first plowshare. And men, taught wisdom from the past, In friendship joined their hands, Hung the sword in the hall, the spear on the wall, And plowed the willing lands; 5 And sang: "Hurrah for Tubal Cain! Our stanch good friend is he; Though we may thank him for the plow, 15 20 ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH ENGLAND, 1819-1861 "Say not, the Struggle Naught Availeth" Say not, the struggle naught availeth, The enemy faints not, nor faileth, If hopes were dupes, fears may be liars; And, but for you, possess the field. "WHERE LIES THE LAND?" For while the tired waves, vainly breaking, Far back, through creeks and inlets making, And not by eastern windows only, When daylight comes, comes in the light, "Where Lies the Land?" Where lies the land to which the ship would go? On sunny noons upon the deck's smooth face, Exults to bear, and scorns to wish it past. Where lies the land to which the ship would go? And where the land she travels from? Away, GEORGE ELIOT ENGLAND, 1819-1880 "Oh, may I join the Choir Invisible" Oh, may I join the choir invisible Of those immortal dead who live again 5 In minds made better by their presence; live In pulses stirred to generosity, In deeds of daring rectitude, in scorn For miserable aims that end with self, In thoughts sublime that pierce the night like stars, 10 And with their mild persistence urge men's search To vaster issues. So to live is heaven: To make undying music in the world, For which we struggled, failed, and agonized |