Chapter III: Part 3

Round the frail boat the wild winds, roaring, swept,
And shook the heart of Danaë with fear,
While from her cold, pale cheek, as Theseus slept,
Dropt the fast tear.
And round her little boy, with closer strain,
Her folding arm the desolate mother flung,
And to the heedless winds her humble plain
Half said, half sung.
“Sweetly thou restest in thy joyless dwelling,
And slumber sealeth up thy spirit mild,
Though the dark waves be far around thee swelling,
Perseus, my child.
O’er thy bright locks while angry winds are lashing
The storm-chafed spray, still sleeps thy careless eye:
Little thou heedest, though the waves be dashing
Insanely by.
Wrapped in thy purple cloak—my breast thy pillow—
Thou driftest helplessly—the ocean’s toy—
Rocked in thy slumbers by the rolling billow—
My little boy!
Did not this peril at thy heart lie lightly,
Unto thy little ear my words would creep:
But _now_ thy face even through the gloom shines brightly—
Oh! Perseus, sleep.
And may the waves, and may our sorrows slumber,
And may all snares be broken in our path;
And on our foes, great Jove, for Perseus number
Thy tenfold wrath.”

“Solventur _fletu_ tabulæ: tu, _lector_, abibis.”

HERMENEUTES.

“OUR MAGAZINE.”

Reader, our salutation must be brief—our correspondents have left us but brief space, in which to give it thee; nevertheless, we cannot take our leave, without introducing to you the dignified personage on our title-page. ’Tis but his likeness. He has long since gone—otherwise, we should not dare take upon ourselves this familiarity; but now we may here both gaze at, and converse about him with freedom. All will readily recognize that distinguished individual, GOV. ELIHU YALE, the patron of our Institution, (whose name it bears,) and the benefactor of mankind. We have not space, were we able, to give him his deserts. Let his epitaph, written in the good old style, and being that which expresses most in the fewest words, speak for us.

“Born in America, in Europe bred,
In Afric travell’d, and in Asia wed,
Where long he liv’d and thriv’d; at London dead.
Much Good, some Ill he did: so hope all’s even,
And that his soul thro’ Mercy’s gone to Heav’n.”

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

The “Lines to M. S.” and “A Sabbath Morning,” were received too late for insertion. They shall appear soon.

The “Lover’s Avowal,” is not after the present fashion.

“Little Jane” is wanting in dignity.

O.’s piece is rejected. We felt ourselves somewhat endangered in the perusal, particularly in the stormy parts of it.

H. and Imo, are respectfully declined.

We are highly pleased with the “Dramatic Fragment.” It shall appear in our next.

PROSPECTUS

OF THE

YALE LITERARY MAGAZINE.

TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE STUDENTS OF YALE COLLEGE.

An _apology_ for establishing a Literary Magazine, in an institution like Yale College, can hardly be deemed requisite by an enlightened public; yet a statement of the objects which are proposed in this Periodical, may not be out of place.

To foster a literary spirit, and to furnish a medium for its exercise; to rescue from utter waste the many thoughts and musings of a student’s leisure hours; and to afford some opportunity to train ourselves for the strife and collision of mind which we must expect in after life;—such, and similar motives have urged us to this undertaking.

So long as we confine ourselves to these simple objects, and do not forget the modesty becoming our years and station, we confidently hope for the approbation and support of all who wish well to this institution.

* * * * *

The work will be printed on fine paper and good type. Three numbers to be issued every term, each containing about 40 pages, 8vo.

_Conditions_—$2,00 per annum, if paid in advance, or 75 cents at the commencement of each term.

Communications may be addressed through the Post Office, “To the Editors of the Yale Literary Magazine.”

* * * * *

This No. contains 2½ sheets. Postage, under 100 miles, 3¾ cents; over 100 miles, 6¼ cents.

-----

Footnote 1:

Johnson.

Footnote 2:

If any one is curious enough to make the inquiry, I can inform him,
that this story is founded on fact;—the individual, herein mentioned,
was a graduate of this Institution.

Footnote 3:

The inquiry has naturally arisen, how these Confessions came into his
possession, who presented them to the Editors of this Magazine. It can
be answered in a few words. While a class, which has since graduated,
was in its Junior year, it was joined by an individual of rather
rustic manners, dressed in a complete suit of grey cloth; yet he was
by no means deficient in that important requisite, manly beauty. He
roomed alone, and mingled but little with his classmates. It was
observed that his temperament was exceedingly variable, sometimes
highly excited, at others, as much depressed. His recitations evinced
talents of a high order. He continued with the class until the close
of the year, and then disappeared. His classmates have heard nothing
from him since. In his table-drawer—left by accident or design—these
manuscripts were found, which, with a few alterations, are now
presented to the public.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

1. Silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling. 2. Anachronistic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings retained as printed. 3. Footnotes have been re-indexed using numbers and collected together at the end of the last chapter. 4. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.