Poems of James Montgomery Author:James Montgomery Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: I know not,—but I soon shall know, 'VVhen life's sore conflicts cease, When this desponding heart lies low, And I shall rest in peace. For see, on Death's ... more »bewildering wave, The rainbow Hope arise, A bridge of glory o'er the grave, That bends beyond the skies. From earth to heaven it swells and shines The pledge of bliss to Man; Time with Eternity combines, And grasps them in a span. THE VIGIL OF ST. MARK. Returning from their evening walk, On yonder ancient stile, In sweet, romantic, tender talk, Two lovers paused awhile : Edmund, the monarch of the dale, All conscious of his powers ; Ella, the lily of the vale, The rose of Auburn's bowers. " Ah ! why," said he, " our bliss delay ? Mine Ella, why so cold ? Those who but love from day to day, From day to day grow old." " 'Tis now," replied the village Belle, " St. Mark's mysterious Eve ; And all that old traditions tell I tremblingly believe :— How, when the midnight signal tolls, Along the churchyard-green A mournful train of sentenced souls In winding-sheets are seen : The ghosts of all whom Death shall doom Within the coming year, In pale procession walk the gloom Amid the silence drear. If Edmund, bold in conscious might, By love severely tried, Can brave the terrors of to-night, Ella will be his bride." She spake,—and, like the nimble fawn, From Edmund's presence fled : He sought, across the rural lawn, The dwelling of the dead ;— The gliding moon through heaven serene Pursued her tranquil way, And shed o'er all the sleeping scene A soft nocturnal day. With swelling heart and eager feet Young Edmund g.-iin'd the church, And chose his solitary seat Within the dreadful porch. Amid the deep abyss of gloom No...« less