From royal hands, who wooed the knightly state.

The knell of old formalities is tolled,

And the world’s knights are now self-consecrate.

No grander episode doth chivalry hold

In all its annals, back to Charlemagne,

Than that lone vigil of unceasing pain,

Faithfully kept through hunger and through cold,

By the good Christian knight, Elisha Kane!

Elisha Kane

[Pg 58]

[Pg 58]

 The Life-Boat.

The Life-Boat.

LAUNCH the life-boat! Far on high

The fiery rockets gleam,

While loud and clear the booming signal gun

Says there is work that quickly must be done.

A vessel’s in distress: haste, every one,

Nor idly stop to dream.

Launch the life-boat! On the shore

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