The poetical works of Eliza Cook online

THE



POETICAL WORKS

OF

ELIZA COOK



A3 1 T H O r i



THE POETICAL WORKS



OF



ELIZA COOK



COMPLETE EDITION
SEith Cfoqjjanafoxrg iottz t tic.




LONDON

FREDERICK WARNE AND CO
AND NEW YORK



3OO3 A XI, 1



; T1U I






OD Q-MA HHMAV/ yCD

wa/i



Al



J. P. BKOWN-WESTHEAD, ESQ., M.P.
frese pages are gratefully geMratefr,

BY ONE WHO CAN ONLY WISH THAT THE OFFERING WEBB
MOKE WORTHY OF HIS ACCEPTANCE.

THE RICHEST WORDS ARE BUT POOR INTERPRETERS OF OUR FEELINGS ;

THEREFORE IT WILL BE ENOUGH TO SAY

THAT THE NAME OF HIM WHO FAVOURS ME BY RECEIVING
THIS SLIGHT PROOF OF GRATEFUL ADMIRATION

WILL BE

"A JOY FOR EVER,"

TO

ELIZA COOK.



249029



iltT TAHl
;IHT



S'



PREFACE.



[r is with considerable pride, and more pleasure, that I now present
to my readers in one volume the whole of my poems, at z
price which, I hope, will be within the means of those who could
not afford the purchase of my previous editions ; and if I can still
retain the sympathy and support of "the people" I shall be amplj
rewarded, and wish for no more richly-gilded laurel.

I have been too long before the Public to have anything new to
express or explain relative to the compositions now again "tendered
for their reception. I can only otter my earnest thanks for the
generous patronage which has always followed the nameious
editions of my works ; and declare that I am still, as I ever have
been, inspired alone by " love and goodwill" toward those who have
so kindly helped me along my chequered path, by freely responding
to my simple effusions. Let me add, that I am very happy in the
assurance afforded me through that response, of many genial cars
and hearts being as open to the whistle of the woodland robin, as
they are to the paean of the cloud-piercing skylark.

ELIZA



CONTENTS.



PAGE

MELAIA . * .+*&. , 1

A KOM AUNT. TRACY DE VOEE AND HUBERT GREY 22



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.



PAGF

fhe Old Arm-chair .... 31
Oh ! dear to Memory are those

Hours .32

Song of the Rushlight ... 33

The Land of my Birth ... 35
The Mother who hath a Child

at Sea 30

Summer's Farewell .... 37

Sailing Song . . 38

Spring 38

The Gipsy's Tent 39

The Miser ...... 40

The Free 41

Old Dobbin 42

Sleep 44

Winter 44

Hallowed be Thy Name ... 45

The English Ship by Moonlight 46

Water \ 47

The Quiet Eye .... . , 48

Snow

The Gallant English Tar
Buttercups and Daisies .
The Old Farm-gate . .
Stanzas . , .



2AGH

55



. 49

. 50

. 50

. 51

. 53

The Idiot-born ...... 54



The Star of Glengary , .

The Waters ....., 55

The Poet 56

The Song of Marion . . . . 58

The Gipsy Child , . . . 59

Nature's Gentleman , , , CO

Norah M'Shaue , SI

Truth ...:..... 62

The Sexton 63

GallaBrae 64

The Clouds 65

Hang up his Harp ; hell Wake

no More 66

The Poet's Wreath , . . . 6l

The Englishman . . . , . 68

To a Favourite Pony .... 69

Stanzas 7t

A B C. . , . , , . . . 71

A Love Song , . 72

Nae Star was Gliutio out aboon 73

Cupid's Arrow 74

Song of the Carrion Crow . . 74

The Young Mariners .... 76

The Heart that's True .... 78

Night , . . 79

This is the Hour for Me . . 80



CONTENTS.



PAGE

There's a Star m the West . . 81
The Loved One was not There . 81
The Ploughshare of Old England 82

Gratitude 82

Away from the Revel . ...... 84

The Fairy of the Sea .... 84

Oh, never Breathe a Dead One's

Name 85

The Sailor s Grave 86

A Song for Merry Harvest . . 86
I miss Thee, my Mother . . . 87
the World- , . * 7^0. . 88

Stanzas 89

England .... 8KI1G . 90
" Thy Kingdom Come" ... 91
The Bow . . -m&9&> fc> V . 92
The Forest Trees . .. W'**- - 93
The King of the Wind ... 94

The Horse 35

The Mourners . . , . 'if : <'

My Grave : * -''*

The Wreaths . . -'J'-i-'K ^
Hope .... r ....
Old Pincher . . , . . U'^i
Christinas Tide . . -'tf 1 *
Kings ... ,. . . fc/'J'flf'i
Lines ...,...
The First Voyage . . . :C J'- .'
J'o Fancy . . .' ' : 'H Yi .^ ~. '' '-. ''''%,
The Old Water-mill . . -,M
Children's Welcoming . . v ' : , j
The Sacrilegious Gamesters . .

Duncan Lee ' * /

Song of the Sea-gulls %**$*' jp r/< $
'Tis well to Wake the Theme of

Love '.<>T;A g t 120

'Winter is Coming" V v 1 ' 1 .'' . 121
Dinna Forget, Love '/ ci' r;; . 122
Our Native Song . V ?J ' f $ . 123
Loch Leven's Gentle Stream . 124
Sir Harold the Hunter . , .124



96
98
99
101
101
104
105
107
109
110
111
112
113
118
119



PA OF

Music ... - 123

On Seeing a Bird-Catcher , .126
Give me the Lama's Fabled

Power 126

Rover's Song 12'/

The Dead .128

The Thames 129

Through the Waters .... 130
The Star of my Home . . . .131

The Brave 132

Song of the Mariners .... 13.7
Stanzas to the Young .... 131

Wedding Bells 136

A Home in the Heart . . . . 1 36
Song for the New Year . *. .137
The Homes of the Dead . . . 138
The King's Old Hall r m ^ ,*,,;. 139
There's One to Guard and

Save. .. . Mwjfcfeft'f **f>V. 140
The Flag of the Free . . . .141
Prayer . . . J -[ ^U*!., 141
My Joy, my Hopes, lejb Others

Share .... V*V> - 149
The Slumber of Death . . .144
Our Sailors and our Ships . .145
Charlie O'Ross, wi' the Sloe-
black Een 145

The Fisher Boy jollily Lives .146
I thank Thee, God ! for Weal

and Woe 146

The Smuggler Boy . . . . .147
The Tomb . . . Ufxiferw . J48
Blue- Bells in the Shade . . .149
Song of the Imprisoned Bird . 1 50
The Willow Tree . vft.teif/i.4 151
The Dream is Broken . . . .152

Fire i Ja*Ik; . 153

Alone 154

Song of the Sun .-&- wutf w(< . 154
A Summer Sketch ..... 156
The Welcome Back . 157



CONTENTS.



While the Christmas Log is

Burning 158

the Acorn . ^ I^'V 1 * .158
To a Cricket ; ...... 159

Anacreontic .<<*... 160
" Thy Will be Done" .... 161

feong of Old Time . . . . .162

Song of the Goblet . . . , * 163
The Christmas Holly . . . .165

Washington . . . 0^ jr\'? ; . 166

Sonnet 167

Love's First Dream '? f c . ' v . 167

Time ..168

The Surgeon's Knife .... 168

Love on 160

To the Spirit of Song .... 170
God Speed the Plough . . . 172
The Old Mill-stream . . . .174
Song of the Red Indian . . .177
'tis Sweet to Love in Childhood 179
Honesty A Fragment . . . 1 79

Song of the Worm 181

Wealth .... ."'; . . 182
The Room of the Household . 184

The Pledge 186

The Future . ;' J < i !fr r < l >.> . 187
My Murray Plaid . v ' T V . 188

Harvest Song 190

Song of the Wind 191

A Gentle Heart . . .-... 193
Song of the Dying Old Man to

his Young Wife 194

Truth '.* -MM . 195

Ilory O'More 197

Teddy O'Neale 200

Under the Moon . . . . . 200
The Old Man's Marvel ... 202
Stanzas for the Season . . . 204
Song of the Blind One . . .206

The Boat- cloak 206

Sunshine , . . . , , 4 . 207



The Sabbath Bell . i) fa -frr . 208
The Fisher-boat . . (. '*wr* . 209

Stanzas 210

Silence a Fragment . . . .211
Dreams of the Past . . .213

Birds 214

Song of the Beggars . . . .217
Some call the World a Dreary

Place . 219

The Waters . . , U/lVq^ 220
A Thanksgiving. . .0 knk . 224

The Old Barn 223

Stanzas . . . . J WJIOT* . 228
The Ship and the Maiden . . 229
The Grandfather's Stick ... 230
Song of the Spirit of Gold . .232

Fragment 235

To my Lyre 236

Rhymes by the Roadside . . 237

Love's Roses . 239

The Poor Man's Grave ... 241
The Daisy . . . * ^q*H . 242
St. Patrick's Day ..... 244

Song of the Hempseed . . . 245
The Old Clock ...... 248

Song of the Ostrich . . . . 249

The Rook sits High . . . . 251

Song of the Greenwood Fagot . 252
Let not the Seed of Anger live . 253

Black Bess 254

The Heart the Heart . . . 255
To the Robin ...... 256

A Sketch . . 257

Tom Tidler's Ground .... 259
Those we Love ...... 261

The Playground 262

Mourn not the Dead . ... 264
Young Kathleen ..... 265
Stanzas to the Memory of Burns 265
The Poor Irish Boy . * . . 266
Song of the Haymakers . . . 267



CONTENTS.



PA.OE

The MOOT of Glenarm .... 268
Trouble your Heads with your

own Affairs .. 269

The Forest Brake . .#&*.-. 270.
The Bees-wing . &*<{*>xii W 2 ? 2

Dust. 273

The Suit of Russet Brown . . 274
Song of the City Artisan . . . 275
Winter is Here .,.,.. 276

The Happy Mind 278

Grey .haired December . . . 280
Song of the Spirit of Poverty . 280
There would I be . . ... 283

Dancing Song . ' . ;j }><*-. *{ 284
Song of the Modern Time . . 286
There's a Love that only Lives . 287
Song x>f the. Wjnter Tree . . .287
When [.wore Red Shoes ... 289
Mother,. Come Back *it.W.p , 291
Song of the Old Year .... 292

I Laughed at the Storm . . . 293
Many Happy Returns of the Day 294
Summer is Nigh, . (<J * ?$: 295
The Dewdrop .,acftt)U*i<f*~ . 296
Old Songs v ...... 297

Spring. . . . ifoi.teO^ij : 200

On the Death of a Favourite

Hound ,s |gpfft)*0*D 4tf . 300
A Hint to Lovers . .**<,,{>- . 301
Song of the Ugly Maiden . . 303
The Tree of Death . it-*h* 305
Health . . . ... . .306

Old Story Books ..... 308

Song of the Sea- weed .... 309

My Old Straw Hat. rfttf \ ^ ,314
The Dog of the Alps ^.^^ . 316
Old Cries. . . . ,<>.?,* . 317

The Past ........ 322

The Sea-child 323

The English Holiday .... 324
A River Thought ..... 325



A Forest Thought ..... 32ft
The Bonnie Scot ..... 321
Oh ! come to the Ingle-side . . 32?
God hath a Voice . . . . .329-
Stanzas f . . , , *&; 329
Day Dreams. .;n*a^*HUW 33C
Here's Merry Christmas come

again . . . ;^7n ?*{;*};. 33V
Derbyshire Dales . rnf.r-raJ* 33<*
The Harp's Wild Notes . . . 334
There is Nothing in Vain . . 334
Did God so Will it ? ] &?& 335
The Village Church .... 337
Like the Evergreen so shall our

Friendship be ..... 338
"Let not the Sun go down upon

your Wrath" ...... 338

My Own . . .. : .-^,>. \j*\ . . 339

Lines written for the Sheffield

Mechanics' Exhibition, 1 846 . 341
" Bonnie, sweet Robin" is " nae



Dead and Gane" .



342
343
344
346
347



An Old Tune ....

A Song for the Dog , .

** Don't you Remember" .

My Old Companions . .

To William Thorn . f <*j * mu \. 34ff

Autumn Thoughts . ...,^2^, - 350

Wilt Thou be True . . . . 351

Rest ..... ^ >w ^j . 352

Parting Song . , , . . . 355

Curls and Couplets. ? ,.H^Y 356

The Bonnie, Green Bough . . 360
* f He that is without Sin among

you, let him first cast a Stone'- 36"

Time's Changes . JJ ,,/yl'9, 3C ^
To Charlotte Cushman ... 364

Lines among the Leaves . . . 365

To Alphonse de Lamartine . . 367

Summer Days ...... 368

Love ......... 370



CONTENTS.



xiu



PAGE

The Happiest Time . . .371
We'll Sing another Christmas

Song 373

A Song 374

The Charcoal and the Diamond 377

To Winter .379

The Boatmen of the Downs . . 381
*' Come .under my Piaidie" . . 381
'Tis a Wild Night at Sea . . . 383
The Child's Offering .... 385
Wilt Thou be Mine ?. . . . 388

Stanzas . . 388

Which do I Love the Best ? . .389
4 ' Where the Weary are at Rest" 390

To . . . . . nj^jjrtw 391

An English Christmas Home . 393
Stanzas by the Sea-side . . . 393
Faith's Guiding Star . ., , ; ,-j , . 395
Address to the Freemasons . . 390
Int Dreamer ...... 398

The Old Palace 403

Christmas Song of the Poor Man 403

Ten Years Ago 408

The Poet's Heart . ... 407
A Special Pleading . . .:-. . 409
Good Works . . . , il*;./^. - 410
Under the Mistletoe . . . .412
A Pathetic Lament . . . .412
It is the Song my Mother Sings 414
We are apt to Grow Aweary . 414
Great Help waits on Little Need 415

Fruit, 416

Bessie Gray . . ?i ;. .^ ... k . 417

Let us give Thanks 419

The Poor Man to his Son . . 420
They all belong to Me . . . 422
4 * Poverty parts Good Companie" 424
The Deck of the " Outward

.Bound" . . . . . . .425

The Shower 426

The Try sting- Place .... 428



Alabama! . . ,. > . . . 429
Winter's Wild Flowers , . , . 430
The Firemen of the Land . .431
Stanzas *> an Old Friend ... 432
The Worship of Nature . ^ . .433
Where there's a Will there's a

Way 436

The Lover to his Departing v

Loved One . . . . . ,437

Dead Leaves ...... 438

The Holy Well - .. = ..43!*
A Song for the Workers , . . 44*
The Old Green Lane . . . . 442

Lines for Music . .,.., { . . .443

Elecampane . 444

The World is a Fairy Ring . . 445
Never hold Malice . . ... 446
Better Fed than Taught . . .447
Fortune and Love . . . . . 448
The Bird in the Storm . . . . 449
11 Early to Bed and Early to r .,

Rise" ttefotfayvr A* ' * 451

" Our Father" 452

Lady June 453

A Sabbath Evening Song . . 45ri

Live and let Live 456

A Temperance Song . . . .457
Thank God for Summer . .459
The Lily and the Stream . . . 461
A Song for the Ragged Schools . 462
Here's " Christmas !" . . . . 463
On Receiving a Bunch of

Heather, Gorse, and Fern . 465
" There's a Silver Lining to

every Cloud" ...... 466

Our Rambles by the Dove . . 467
Lines in the Twilight .... 46A

Law and Justice . . . . .471

"Turn Again, Whittington" . 472
The Streets . . . . . . . 473

The Galloping Steed * . . . 474



XIV



CONTENTS.



Hie Heart's Charity . . . . 475
Stanzas written on a Spring Day 477

My Name. . 478

The Philosopher's Stone ... 480
The Green Hill-side V ; V*. . 481
A. City Song ...... 483

A Song for Christmas Eve . . 485
* Write Soon" ?". ''I V ; i? . 486

14 No!" Uf :i . 487

The Two Worshippers . . , 489
Lines . . - . . H" ' '. v i . 402
A Chant for Christmas- Day . . 403

Household Walls 4f)5

Oh ! let us be Happy .... 406

The Churchyard Stile .... 407

Song of the Red Man . . . . 408

Musical' Murmurs from a Shat-
tered String ...... 500

"A Thing of Beauty is a Joy

for Ever" .502

The Bay-Tree . . '? i' j . - . 516
Don't tell the World that you' re

Waiting for Me 517

The Life-Boat is a Gallant Bark 517
" Love One Another" . . . .518
Sweet Green Leaves '.' '. ' d J . 518
Once upon a Time . . , . .510
The Smuggler King *. '" '.' . . 522
" Where are they now ? . . 523
The liaising of the Maypole . . 523
I Leave Thee for a while . . 525
A Doggrel Ditty . .' '. .' . 525
Hymn . . . J . ," J '''." *.'"/> . 527
Christmas ..'". .' J 'J : % *'*,'' 527
Odd Lilies for " Odd Fellows" . 520
A Gay Deceiver is He ... 530
Peace . . . ''.' -^ '^ ^/ ; . 531
Lines Appended to a Bunch of

Dried Grasses . V''.' . ' . 532
Charity . , J ,' ,' .' . , . 532
''he Piper's Daughter .... 533



The Banner of Union . . . .534
Song of the Village Church Bell 535
The Mother to her Deaf and

Dumb Child 538

Stanzas to my Starving Kin in
the North ....... 538

Over the Downs 539

The English Girl . >ia%iN5 540
We'll Stand to our Guns ... 540
On Seeing some Agricultural

Emigrants Embark . . . .541
Building on the Sand .... 542
"Must I Leave Thee, Paradise?'' 543
Song of the Sailor Boy . . . 545
Sorrowful , Summer Stanzas . . 546
To "Bran" . . . P .IJbife . 54
When Thou wert Nigh ... 54ft
We'll be True to Each Other . 548
Not as I used to do .... 549
Be Kind when you can . . . 55 f

The Game of Life 55 J

Hymn . . "^^l ?^^^" . 55{
The Red Cross of England the

Flag of the Brave .... 553
Song of the Rejected One . . 554
The Farewell of May . ^^ < 550

" God Bless You" 550

Freedom and the Right . . , 557
The "Old, Old Story" ... 558

A Welcome 558

Stanzas for Music 561

The Infinite . . . . .- .562
Hurrah ! for our Riflemen . . 563
Impromptu Sonnet . ; * $?M *i 564
The Fairy Wish : ;- : /' ; '^' : .' 564
" I wish Thou wert not Going". 563
A Cheer for the Helping Hand . 566
Type of the Poet -one . . . . 566
Impromptu Stanzas .... 567
The Memory of the Loved and
Lost. . 668



CONTENTS.



PAGE

To 0. A. A 568

Dn Hearing a Wounded Bird
Singing in a Tree .... 570

Shakspeare 570

Germs of Greatness .... 572

Eva's Farewell 57.*

" Poor Uncle Tom" .... 573
Little Topsy's Song .... 574
The Mother's Leap .... 575
On Hearing an yEoliau Harp . 576

"Poor Hood" 576

The Green Leaves are Dead . . 578

I'll Think of Thee 57!)

Remorse , 580

Song of the Eagle . . , . ,581
Simple Stanzas, written in

young Sorrow 582

"Castle Lea" ...... 582

Garibaldi the True , * . . 585
Tercentenary Ode .... 586



Grey-eyed Mabel 587

A Hill-side Home 58?

St. Valentine's Day .... 589
An Autumn Sketch . . , . 59V

My Ladye Love 593

Poor Little Birdie 594

The only Daughter . . . , 597
"Sweet Home" ... a . 598

" Country Words" 599

Christ Crucified 601

" Three Hundred Pounds a

Year" CO!

"Girls and Boys come out to

Play" 603

On the Death of Richard Cobden 604
For a Photographic Album . . 605

" Deceived" flOfi

Lines written in the Album of

Mr. Alfred Forester . . .60?
To the late William Jerdan , fiOH



KHYMES FOR YOUNG READERS,



The Mouse and the Cake . . 609

An Evening Song 610

fry again 610

Anger 612

Home for the Holidays . . .612
The Sailor Boy's Gossip . . .614
How Glad I shall be when the
Cuckoo is Singing . . . , #i



The Blind Boy's been at Play,
Mother Olft

The Death of Master Tommy
Rook . \^ f CI7

The Violet-boy . . . , * . 619

Puss and Dash , , G$?



ELIZA COOK'S
POETICAL WORKS.



MELAIA.

TWAS in the age when Arts and Peace
Revived once more in mighty Greece;
When Fame forsook the camp and blade,

And turned from purple fields to wreath
Her meeds again for those who bade

The canvas glow, the marble breathe :
'Twas in this age Melonian stood

The highest in his sculpture art ;
Known as the great, loved as the good ;
With hand but rivalled by his heart.
His was the power to wake the gaze,
Yielding the spirit's speechless praise
His was the spell that flings control
Over the eye, breast, brain, and soul;
Chaining our senses to the stona
Till we become
As fixed and dumb
As the cold form we look upon.

Melonian was about to leave
His idol toil one summer eve ;

When at his door a stranger-guest
Appeared, in venerable guise ;
Whose weight of years had dimmed his eyes.

And meekly lowered his " haught crest."
His garb was of a shape and sort

That plainly augured little wealth ;
But his frank smile gave good report

Of rich content and placid health-



MELAIA.

No stern and frowning gloom was seet.
To curl his lip or shade his mien ;
His bending limbs and silvered head,

Stricken with patriarchal age ;
Gave ample sign that he had read

Life's volume to its closing page.

Melonian rose the Stranger bowed :

" Artist," cried he, " I've come to scan
Thy blazoned works, is it allowed?
Though great, perhaps thou'rt not too proud

To please an old and curious man.
The restless wings of Rumour waft
Fair tidings of thy noble craft :
Crowds speak of thee with lauding joy ;
I know thy fame, and would employ
Thy skill. Say, Artist, what may be
The sum that forms thy common fee ?"

The Sculp tor smiled. " Friend !" he exclaimed

" My charge may startle, when 'tis named.

Excuse my freedom if I say

I deem 'tis more than thou canst pay.

Two thousand bizantines I ask

For simplest form or briefest task." .,

" Two thousand ! 'tis indeed fair store
Of gold, but lie deserved much mom
Have what thou wilt, 'tis ne'er too much ;

Double the sum, it shall be thine ;
But will thy chisel deign to touch

A form nor human nor divine ?
I see thou hast a goodly band

Of gods and heroes scattered round j
But L invoke thy master hand
To carve me but a simple hound." .

" A hound ! a dog !" Melonian cried :
" How's this, old man ; wouldst thou deride
My noble art ? I blush with shame :
Say, dost thou taunt my skill and fame?
I, first in Greece, think' st thou 'twould suit
Such hand to carve a cur ! a brute ?"

" Hold !" said the Guest ; " I must not hear
Such hard words thrown to one so dear.
Long as I've trod the world, I've found .
Naught half so worthy as my hound;



MELA1A.

And tjiou, Meloiiian, wouldst not spurn

His claims and merit, didst thou learn

The strange and strong, nay, holy tie,

That linked so firm and tenderly.

Of all the boons that men possess

^To aid, to cheer, instruct, and bless,

The dog bold, fond, and beauteous beast

Is far from either last or least.

His love lives on through change of lot ;

His faith will chain him on our grave
To howl and starve ; but thou mayst not

Have proved such love and faith . j have.

"Thy guerdon's sure : look on this ring;

A precious, though a bauble thing :

Its meanest jewel would suffice

To render safe thy utmost price.

But do my bidding, and the stone

Of richest lustre is thine own ;

Behold, and judge." The Sculptor gazed'

Upon the slender hand upraised,

And saw a finger thin and white,

Encircled with a hoop of gold,
Embedding gems of flashing light,

Nor loosely worn nor cheaply sold.
" Speak," cried the Stranger ; "dost thou choose

To carve my dog? decide and tell ... . . .

Enough : I see thou dost refuse

The favour craved. Artist, farewell."

Melonian seized his hand : " Nay, nay,

Thy parting is not thus with me :
Thy speech, thy bearing, all betray
Thou art not what thou seem'st to be. - l . ^
There's more than meets the eye and ear

In thee. Say who and what thou art!
I'm honest, and thou need'st not fear

A gossip tongue nor traitor heart.
May I beseech thee to relate
The secrets of thy name and state ?
You start ay, 'tis a bold request ;
But you have stirred within my breast
A quick and sudden interest,
Wrapt in thy pilgrimage and fate.
The warmth you've kindled doth defy
The rules of worldly courtesy ;
And prompts, perchance, to ruder word
And freer tone than should be heard.



MELAIA.

Your pardon, if I give offence ; 0j^

But, trust me, mine's no wily soul-*
This fervour, bursting all control,
Is not the bearing of pretence."

&&$&?< "'5;F : . .*:*' -'i'-'' : ''>tl) iijB^GK
The Stranger spoke not for awhile,
But strove to check a rising sigh;
And fixed his calm and searching eye
Upon the Sculptor's brow. The smile
Which erst illumed his mouth had fled s
And with it every trace of red
From cheek and lips ; a change had spread
O'er his fair mien, as though some deep,
Keen pangs were roused from Memory's bleep,
Till his rapt brow and stony gaze
Betrayed that he re-trod the ways
Which left him lost in Sorrow's maze.

Where is the one who hath not had
Some anguish-trial, long gone by,

Steal, spectre-like, all dark and sad
On busy thought, till the full eye

And aching breast, betrayed too well.

The Past still held undying spel! ?

ifo ui\il > .f-n<.rv' 3 *

Some pensive vision of this kind
Seemed shadowing the Stranger's mind.
" My fate," said he, " hath been to see

And bear Mortality's extremes.
My days have run 'twixt cloud and sun;

But oh ! with more of shade than beams.
What I was once, has been concealed

Right cautiously trow, other ears ;
My tongue has never yet revealed

The state that marked my earlier years ;
But thou shalt hear it ; I will trust

The earnest radiance in thy face :

'Tis spirit-lit, and I can trace
The breathing of a soul all just.
Listen, Melonian ; but 1 claim
Thy sacred vow that words or name
Pass not thy lips till death has laid
This breaking form in peace and shade.
Say, Sculptor, dost thou yield thine oath ? ;;

Ay !" cried Melonian ; " but the troth
U simple promise is, with me.



MELAIA.

As strong a bond as there can be.

My oath ! Ay, take it if thou wilt ;
Yet is that bosom base and cold,
And little worth, that does not hold

A broken word as meanest guilt.

But stay, my friend, here's rich, rare wine,

Of years, I ween, outnumbering thine ;

I know its vintage to be good ;

Pour, fill, and drink 'twill warm thy blood;

Come, pledge me deep, thy cheek is pale ;

First brace thy heart, then tell thy tale."

The cup was drained, and Friendship's power
Had grown so great in some short hour ;
'Twere difficult for host or guest
To say which liked the other best.

"JSTow," cried the Stranger, "hear me tell
My simple tale ; and, mark me well;
Though my plain style may sound, uncouth,
It yields naught else than bitter truth.

" My long and chequered course began
Far hence, in sultry Hindostan.
I was a mighty monarch's heir;

My toys, the sceptre and the crcwn ;
Shown like an idol to the stare
Of a vast nation ; taught to wear
A princely port, and proudly share
A power I should one day bear,

All kingly all my own.

" I know full well you cannot see
A trace of what there once might be ;
My sand is almost out, and now
You find but furrows on iny brow.
1 know no records linger there,
Save those indorsed by Age and Care ;
The storm- waves of Misfortune's tide
Bring prince and peasant side by side ;
And who can mark the monarch, when
He ranks and herds with other men ?

" I know full well it seems a thing
Absurd, a jest to rouse your mirth,