years after gave to the public, in a small volume, "The Buccaneer, and other Poems." This was well received, the popular taste having, in the five years which had elapsed since the publication of the Idle Man," been considerably improved; but as his publishers failed soon after it was printed, the poet was not made richer by his toil. In 1833 he published his "Poems and Prose Writings," including "The Buccaneer," and other pieces embraced in his previous volume, with some new poems, and the "Idle Man," except the few papers written for it by his friends. For this he received from his bookseller about enough to make up for the loss he had sustained by the "Idle Man." His case illustrates the usual extent of the rewards of exertion in the higher departments of literature in this country. Had his first work been successful, he would probably have been a voluminous writer.

In 1839, he delivered in Boston and New York a series of lectures on English poetry, and the great masters of the art, which were warmly applauded by the educated and judicious. These have not yet been printed.

The longest and most remarkable of DANA's poems is the " Buccaneer," a story in which he has depicted with singular power the stronger and darker passions. It is based on a tradition of a murder committed on an island on the coast of New England, by a pirate, whose guilt in the end

THE BUCCANEER.

"Boy with thy blac berd,
I rede that thou blin,

And sone set the to shrive,
With sorrow of thi syn;
Ze met with the merchandes
And made tham ful bare :
It es gude reason and right
That ze evill misfare."

LAURENCE MINOT.

THE island lies nine leagues away.
Along its solitary shore,

Of craggy rock and sandy bay,

No sound but ocean's roar,

Save, where the bold, wild sea-bird makes her home,
Her shrill cry coming through the sparkling foam.

But when the light winds lie at rest,
And on the glassy, heaving sea,
The black duck, with her glossy breast,
Sits swinging silently;

How beautiful! no ripples break the reach,
And silvery waves go noiseless up the beach.

out to him; a single glance was sufficient; the legislator could not be the author of Thanatopsis; and he returned without seeking an introduction. A slight and natural mistake of names had misled his informant. The real author being at length discovered, a correspondence ensued; and BRYANT being invited to deliver the Phi Beta Kappa poem at Cambridge, they became personally acquainted, and a friendship sprung up which has lasted until the present time.

meets with strange and terrible retribution. In attempting to compress his language he is sometimes slightly obscure, and his verse is occasionally harsh, but never feeble, never without meaning. The Buccaneer" is followed by a poem of very different character, entitled "The Changes of Home," in which is related the affection of two young persons, in humble life, whose marriage is deferred until the lover shall have earned the means of subsistence; his departure in search of gain; his return in disappointment; his second departure, and death in absence-a sad history, and one that is too often lived. Factitious Life," "Thoughts on the Soul," and "The Husband's and Wife's Grave," are the longest of his other poems, and, as well as his shorter pieces, they are distinguished for high religious purpose, profound philosophy, simple sentiment, and pure and vigorous diction.

All the writings of DANA belong to the permanent literature of the country. His prose and poetry will find every year more and more readers. Something resembling poetry "is oftentimes borne into instant and turbulent popularity, while a work of genuine character may be lying neglected by all except the poets. But the tide of time flows on, and the former begins to settle to the bottom, while the latter rises slowly and steadily to the surface, and goes forward, for a spirit is in it.”

And inland rests the green, warm dell; The brook comes tinkling down its side; From out the trees the Sabbath bell

Rings cheerful, far and wide,

Mingling its sound with bleatings of the flocks, That feed about the vale among the rocks.

Nor holy bell nor pastoral bleat

In former days within the vale ; Flapp'd in the bay the pirate's sheet;

Curses were on the gale;

Rich goods lay on the sand, and murder'd men;

Pirate and wrecker kept their revels then.

But calm, low voices, words of grace,
Now slowly fall upon the ear;

A quiet look is in each face,

Subdued and holy fear:

Each motion gentle; all is kindly done-
Come, listen, how from crime this isle was won.

I.

Twelve years are gone since MATTHEW LEE
Held in this isle unquestion'd sway;

A dark, low, brawny man was he;
His law-"It is my way."

Beneath his thick-set brows a sharp light broke
From small gray eyes; his laugh a triumph spoke.

II.

Cruel of heart, and strong of arm,

Loud in his sport, and keen for spoil,
He little reck'd of good or harm,
Fierce both in mirth and toil;

Yet like a dog could fawn, if need there were :
Speak mildly, when he would, or look in fear.