IN DIVERS TONES

BY

CHARLES G. D. ROBERTS

AUTHOR OF "ORION, AND OTHER POEMS"; PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH LITERATURE IN THE UNIVERSITY OF KING'S COLLEGE, WINDSOR, N. S.

To My Friend, EDMUND COLLINS.

In divers tones I sing, And pray you, Friend, give ear! My medley of song I bring You, who can rightly hear.

Themes gathered far and near, Thoughts from my heart that spring, In divers tones I sing, And pray you. Friend, give ear!

Here's many a serious thing-- You'll know if it's sincere. Where the light laughters ring You may detect a tear. In divers tones I sing, And pray you, Friend, give ear!

CONTENTS.

DEDICATION

COLLECT FOR DOMINION DAY

CANADA

ACTAEON

IN THE AFTERNOON

THE PIPES OF PAN

BEFORE THE BREATH OF STORM

OUT OF POMPEII

TO FREDERICTON IN MAY-TIME

IN SEPTEMBER

CONCERNING CUTHBERT THE MONK

IMPULSE

THE ISLES--AN ODE

A SERENADE

OFF PELORUS

A BALLADE OF CALYPSO

RAIN

MIST

THE TANTRAMAR REVISITED

THE SLAVE WOMAN

THE MARVELLOUS WORK

A SONG OF DEPENDENCE

ON THE CREEK

LOTOS

THE SOWER

THE POTATO HARVEST

AFLOAT

RECKONING

IN NOTRE DAME

NOCTURNE

TIDES

CONSOLATION

DARK

THE FOOTPATH

TOUT OU RIEN

SALT

KHARTOUM

LIBERTY. (From the French of Fréchette)

TO THE MEMORY OF SIDNEY LANIER

ON READING THE POEMS OF SIDNEY LANIER

IN LANG'S "HELEN OF TROY." (TO BLISS CARMAN.)

A BALLADE OF PHILOMELA

A HERALD

WINTER GERANIUMS

A BREATHING TIME

BIRCH AND PADDLE. (To BLISS CARMAN.)

AN ODE FOR THE CANADIAN CONFEDERACY

THE QUELLING OF THE MOOSE

A SONG OF REGRET

THE DEPARTING OF CLOTE SCARP

A BREAK

TO A LADY, AFTER HEARING HER READ KEATS' "NIGHTINGALE"

RONDEAU. (TO LOUIS HONORE FRÉCHETTE.)

A BIRTHDAY BALLADE

To S---- M----

LA BELLE TROMBONISTE

THE POET IS BIDDEN TO MANHATTAN ISLAND

THE BLUE VIOLET

IN DIVERS TONES.

COLLECT FOR DOMINION DAY.

Father of nations! Help of the feeble hand! Strength of the strong! to whom the nations kneel! Stay and destroyer, at whose just command Earth's kingdoms tremble and her empires reel! Who dost the low uplift, the small make great, And dost abase the ignorantly proud, Of our scant people mould a mighty state, To the strong, stern,--to Thee in meekness bowed! Father of unity, make this people one! Weld, interfuse them in the patriot's flame,-- Whose forging on thine anvil was begun In blood late shed to purge the common shame; That so our hearts, the fever of faction done, Banish old feud in our young nation's name.

CANADA.

O Child of Nations, giant-limbed, Who stand'st among the nations now Unheeded, unadored, unhymned, With unanointed brow,--

How long the ignoble sloth, how long The trust in greatness not thine own? Surely the lion's brood is strong To front the world alone!

How long the indolence, ere thou dare Achieve thy destiny, seize thy fame--