John Nichol (biographer)

"All is light To him that lightly loves."

"The pastime of light minds Is mocking others grief."

"The Gods are not of Rome or Italy: They dwell in earths abyss or with the stars, Their shrines are where we bring heroic hearts."

"Good-night, my love, good-night; Farewell! the breeze is sighing Along the harbour height; The fleecy clouds are flying Beneath Astarte’s light. My mariners are crying "In favouring winds away"! And I, my love denying, Must cleave th’ Ægean spray.The song that the sea is singing Is gentle and soft to-night: The lustre the stars are flinging On the bay is tender and bright; And bark like a bird is springing And speeding from thy sight: And a tune in my head is ringing That thrills my heart for flight Across the waves, soon winging, Return to thee; and bringing Treasures for thy delight. Good-night, my love, Good-night."

"Who shuns offence and holds with neither side, Who dreads the deep and never dares to swim, Who fears to trip and never tries to run, May yet in walking stumble."

"Life is glad life when led by laughing hours, With joys of love or spoils of battle gilt; When darkness steals the day and shuts the flowers, Our arms are shattered and the wine is spilt, We rise as grateful guests from banquet gay, Resign the wreath, and toss the glass away.Death is dark death when slurred with terrors vain: Whether blest isles or fields Elysian wait, Or all is silent oer the circling main, We know not ever; but we conquer Fate, Assail the mansions of the Gods, and claim The crown of valour, in a deathless name.Tis well to live for glory, home, and land; And, when these fail us, it is well to die. The latest freedom never fails our hand, From scornful Earth, on wings of scorn, to fly; When Life grows heavy. Death remains, the door To dreamless rest beside the Stygian shore.The portals open to our meteor way: A red dawn breaks the shadows of the hour. We leave the bitter cup of alien sway, To hinds that crouch beneath the heels of power. Ours the triumphal path, the heros right; And Death hangs oer us like a starry night!"