"O they swell'd and they died; mother, make

bed soon,

For I'm weary wi' hunting, and fain would lie

66

down."

my

"O I fear ye are poison'd, Lord Randal, my son ! OI fear ye are poison'd, my handsome young man!" 66 0 yes, I am poison'd! mother, make my bed

soon,

For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain would lie down." SCOTT's Border Minstrelsy.

S

[EVENING.]

WEET after showers, ambrosial air,
That rollest from the gorgeous gloom
Of evening over brake and bloom
And meadow, slowly breathing bare

The round of space, and rapt below
Through all the dewy-tassell'd wood,
And shadowing down the horned flood
In ripples, fan my brows and blow

The fever from my cheek, and sigh

The full new life that feeds thy breath Throughout my frame till Doubt and Death, Ill brethren, let the fancy fly

From belt to belt of crimson seas

On leagues of odour streaming far,
To where in yonder orient star

A hundred spirits whisper " Peace."
In Memoriam.

THE BRIDGE OF SIGHS.

"Drown'd! drown'd!"-HAMLET.

NE more Unfortunate,

Weary of breath,

Rashly importunate,

Gone to her death!

Take her up tenderly,
Lift her with care;
Fashion'd so slenderly,
Young, and so fair!

Look at her garments
Clinging like cerements;
Whilst the wave constantly
Drips from her clothing;
Take her up instantly,
Loving, not loathing.—

Touch her not scornfully;
Think of her mournfully,
Gently and humanly;
Not of the stains of her,
All that remains of her
Now is pure womanly.

Make no deep scrutiny
Into her mutiny

Rash and undutiful :

Past all dishonour,

Death has left on her

Only the beautiful.

Still, for all slips of hers,
One of Eve's family-

Wipe those poor lips of hers
Oozing so clammily.

Loop up her tresses
Escaped from the comb,

Her fair auburn tresses;
Whilst wonderment guesses
Where was her home?

Who was her father?

Who was her mother?

Had she a sister?

Had she a brother?

Or was there a dearer one

Still, and a nearer one

Yet, than all other ?

Alas! for the rarity
Of Christian charity
Under the sun!

Oh! it was pitiful!
Near a whole city full,
Home she had none.

Sisterly, brotherly,

Fatherly, motherly

Feelings had changed:

Love, by harsh evidence,

Thrown from its eminence;

Even God's providence
Seeming estranged.

Where the lamps quiver
So far in the river,

As when with the daring
Last look of despairing
Fix'd on futurity.

Perishing gloomily,
Spurr'd by contumely,
Cold inhumanity,
Burning insanity,
Into her rest.-

Cross her hands humbly
As if praying dumbly,
Over her breast!

Owning her weakness,

Her evil behaviour,

And leaving, with meekness,

Her sins to her Saviour!

HOOD.

SONG.

[AT A LADY'S WINDOW.]

66
FROM CYMBELINE."

ARK! hark! the lark at heaven's gate sings,

HA

And Phoebus 'gins arise,

His steeds to water at those springs

On chaliced flowers that lies;

And winking mary buds begin

To ope their golden eyes;
With every thing that pretty bin :
My lady sweet, arise.

Arise, arise!

SHAKESPEARE.