"O Willy, I can caird an' spin,

Sae ne'er can want for cleedin; An gin I ha'e my Willy's heart

I ha'e a' the pearls I'm heedin.

"Will it be time to praise this cheek

Whan years an' tears ha'e blench't it?

Will it be time to tauk o' love

When cauld an' care ha'e quencht it?"

H. AINSLIE.

CLI

THE WORLD'S TREASURES

STRUCTURES, rais'd by morning dreams,
Sands, that trip the flitting streams,
Down, that anchors on the air,

Clouds, that paint their changes there.

Seas, that smoothly dimpling lie,
While the storm impends from high,
Showing, in an obvious glass,
Joys, that in possession pass.

Transient, fickle, light and gay,
Flatt'ring only to betray;
What, alas, can life contain !

Life, like all it circles-vain!

Will the stork, intending rest,

On the billow build her nest?

Will the bee demand her store

From the bleak and bladeless shore?

Man alone, intent to stray,

Ever turns from wisdom's way;

Lays up wealth in foreign land,

Sows the sea, and ploughs the sand.

E. MOORE.

CLII

DISILLUSION

Ан me, my friend! it will not, will not last!
This fairy scene, that cheats our youthful eyes!
The charm dissolves; th' aerial music's past,
The banquet ceases, and the vision flies.

Where are the splendid forms, the rich perfumes,
Where the gay tapers, where the spacious dome?
Vanish'd the costly pearls, the crimson plumes,
And we, delightless, left to wander home!

And now, 'tis o'er, the dear delusion's o'er!
A stagnant breezeless air becalms my soul;
A fond aspiring candidate no more,

I scorn the palm, before I reach the goal.

O life! how soon of every bliss forlorn!

We start false joys, and urge the devious race; A tender prey, that cheers our youthful morn, Then sinks untimely, and defrauds the chace.

W. SHENSTONE.

CLIII

THE DEFILED SANCTUARY

I SAW a chapel all of gold

That none did dare to enter in,
And many weeping stood without,
Weeping, mourning, worshipping.

I saw a serpent rise between

The white pillars of the door,
And he forced and forced and forced,
Till he the golden hinges tore:

And along the pavement sweet,
Set with pearls and rubies bright,

All his shining length he drew,-
Till upon the altar white

He vomited his poison out

On the bread and on the wine.

So I turned into a sty,

And laid me down among the swine.

W. BLAKE.

CLIV

WINIFREDA

AWAY; let nought to love displeasing,
My Winifreda, move your care;

Let nought delay the heavenly blessing,
Nor squeamish pride, nor gloomy fear.

What tho' no grants of royal donors,

With pompous titles grace our blood; We'll shine in more substantial honors, And, to be noble, we'll be good.

Our name, while virtue thus we tender,
Will sweetly sound where-e'er 'tis spoke :
And all the great ones, they shall wonder
How they respect such little folk.

What though, from fortune's lavish bounty,
No mighty treasures we possess ;
We'll find, within our pittance, plenty,
And be content without excess.

Still shall each returning season
Sufficient for our wishes give;
For we will live a life of reason,

And that's the only life to live.

Through youth and age, in love excelling,
We'll hand in hand together tread;
Sweet-smiling peace shall crown our dwelling,
And babes, sweet-smiling babes, our bed.

How should I love the pretty creatures,
While round my knees they fondly clung;
To see them look their mother's features,
To hear them lisp their mother's tongue.

And when with envy, Time transported,
Shall think to rob us of our joys,
You'll in your girls again be courted,
And I'll go wooing in my boys.

ANON.

CLV

THE TOUCH STONE

A FOOL and knave with different views
For Julia's hand apply;

The knave to mend his fortune sues,
The fool to please his eye.

Ask you how Julia will behave,

Depend on't for a rule,

If she's a fool she'll wed the knave-

If she's a knave, the fool.

S. BISHOP.