The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1867-10-19
THE OMNIBUS.

THE OMNIBUS.
THE POETS.
During these words pace did not slack,
But passed the forest-forest let me say
So thickly swarmed the spirits round our track.
Nor had we far descended way,
When, through the gloom of that black hemisphere,
light noticed which the darkness quelled,
And partly saw, though still not very near,
A of dignity that region held.
Thou who all knowledge honor'st, and all art,
What souls are those who seem thus glorifed,
That from the others they set apart? '
Their Names" he said, 'are sounded far and wide;
Some grace Heaven grants them for thy worlds estee
So speaking, fell voice upon mine ear,
Honor and glory to the Bard Supreme!
Whose shade which left us lately draws near"
Then as this voice grew quiet and was hushed,
-Four mighty shades [ saw advancing dim
No sorrow paled their cheeks nor gladness flushed;
Look p my good Master said, "take note of him,
The first who bears sword, and chief is reckoned-
IT'S Homer, of all bards the sovereign classed;
Horace, the satirst he comes the second;
The third is Ovid Lucan is the last
Since all their voices mingling thus in one
Give title which alike we SHARE
They do me honor and It's nobly DONE"
Thus the whole school I saw assembled fair,
Of Him, songs loftiest lord, that DER the rest
Scars like an eagle; they conferred awhile,
Then, me sauting much good will exprest,
Whereat my Master bandIy deigned to smile
Nay, honor they devised for me still higher
In bidding me with their sage throng unite,
So was sixth amid that learned choir
And on we moved still travelling toward the light
Speaking of fittings bestunsad in my rhymes
Though there becoming, we pursued our road
Toward proud castle walled about seven times
Round which, fair defense, streamlet flowed.
Der this passed, as it had solid been
And through gates, with companions wise,
Entered meadow fresh with living green,
Where dwelt race with grave, majestic eyes.
Authority writ in every face;
sweetly they spake-but seldom withdrew
Into open, luminous high place,
So that the whole were facile to my view.
FRANCESCA DA RIMINT
AS wandering doves bound homeward through the sky
Called by DESIRE with wings wide open thrown,
Steadily toward their pleasant dwellings fly,
Sped ever onward by their wish aone
So, from the troop where Dido ranks, they sailed
Toward me, through that dim atmosphere malign
My passionate entreaty SO prevailed
O breathing being, gracious and benign!
Who comst to visit through this crimson air
U.s. whose hearts blood hath stained the world above
To Him who rules the universe, prayer
Should rise for thy SOULS peace-had we His love-
And, since thou pitiest thus our ill-sarred fate,
Listen-or speak for, whatsoever we WILL
We will as freely hear of as relate,
~While this dread blast is for the moment, still.
" My native city stands upon the shore
Where Pc descends in Adria's peace to rest
Raging with all his rivulets no more.
Love- quick to kindle every gentler breast,
Fired this fond being with the lovely shape
Bereft me SO Il shudder at the way:
Love- who permits no loved one to escape,
That pleased him, charmed me with equal sway
Even here thou seest the rapture hath not died;
And Love led both of us to one fell death
But Gains own pangs our murderer must bide'
These were the words borne to me by their breath
Listening these injured souls, hung my head
So low-"What thnk'st thou % said the bard "Alas!
What tender thoughts how strong DESIRE" said
Brought those. two lovers to their woeful pass !"
Them turning round to them, thus began:
Francesca, tears must overflow mine eyes,
My plying soul thy maryr-throes unman;
But tell me- in the time of happy signs,
Your vague desires how gave Love utterance frst?"
And she to me: "The mightest fall woes
Is, in the midst of misery, to be cursed
With bliss remembered-this thy teacher knows.
Yet woudst thou learn PASSIONS root and head
AS may speak whose eyes with tears are dim,
So will speak. Together once we read