Throughout the liberal and harmonious nature
Something seemed absent, what I scarcely knew,
Till one calm night, when over slumbering seas
Watched the still heaven, and down on every wave
Looked some soft lulling star the instinctive2 want
Learned what it pined for; and I asked the priest
With a quick sigh, Why I was motherless?

And that the cloud which dimmed a dawning sun

Oft but foretold its splendor at the noon.

As thus he spoke, faint memories struggling came-
Faint as the things some former life hath known.
Lady M. Of what?

Vyvyan.

A face sweet with a stately sorrow,

And lips which breathed the words that mothers

murmur.

Lady M. (Aside.) Back, tell-tale tears!

Vyryan.

About that time, a stranger

Came to our hamlet; rough, yet, some said, well born;
Roisterer, and comrade, such as youth delights in.
Sailor he called himself, and nought belied
The sailor's metal ringing in his talk
Of El Dorados,3 and Enchanted Isles,
Of hardy Raleigh, and of fearless Drake,
And great Columbus with prophetic eyes

Fixed on a dawning world. His legends fired me-
And, from the deep whose billows washed our walls,
Th' alluring wave called with a Siren's1 music,

And thus I left my home with that wild seaman.

Lady M. The priest, consenting, still divulged not

more?

Vyvyan. No; nor rebuked mine ardor. "Go," he said,

"The noblest of all nobles are the men

In whom their country feels herself ennobled."
Lady M. (Aside.) I breathe again.

you left these shores

- Well, thus

Vyvyan. Scarce had the brisker sea-wind filled our sails,

When the false traitor who had lured my trust

Cast me to chains and darkness. Days went by.

At length one belt of desolate waters round,

And on the decks one scowl of swarthy brows
(A hideous crew, the refuse of all shores) –
Under the flapping of his raven flag
The pirate stood revealed, and called his captive.
Grimly he heard my boyish loud upbraidings,
And grimly smiled in answering, “ I, like thee,
Cast off, and disinherited, and desperate,
Had but one choice-death or the pirate's flag.
Choose thou. I am more gracious than thy kindred.
I proffer life; the gold they gave me paid

Thy grave in ocean!"

Lady M.

Hold! The demon lied!

Vyvyan. Swift, as I answered so, his blade flashed

forth;

But self-defence is swifter still than slaughter;

I plucked a sword from one who stood beside me,
And smote the slanderer to my feet. Then all
That human hell broke loose; oaths

lightened;

When in the death swoon of the caitiff5 chief,

The pirate next in rank forced back the swarm,
And in that superstition of the sea

rang,

steel

Which makes the sole religion of its outlaws Forbade my doom by bloodshed; griped and bound me

To a slight plank; spread to the winds the sail,
And left me on the waves alone with God.

Eveline. Pause. Let my hand take thine-feel its warm life,

And, shuddering less, thank Him whose eye was o'er thee.

Vyvyan. That day, and all that night, upon the seas Tossed the frail barrier between life and death;

Heaven lulled the gales; and when the stars came forth,

All looked so bland and gentle that I wept,

Recalled that wretch's words, and murmured, "All,
Even wave and wind, are kinder than my kindred!'
But nay, sweet lady –

Lady M.

Vyvyan.

Heed me not.

Night passed

Day dawned; and, glittering in the sun, behold,

And with parched lips I called on death, and sought
To wrench my limbs from the stiff cords that gnawed
Into the flesh, and drop into the deep:

And then the clear wave trembled, and below

I saw a dark, swift-moving, shapeless thing,
With watchful, glassy eyes; the ghastly shark

Swam hungering round its prey then life once

more

Grew sweet, and with a strained and horrent 6

And lifted hair I floated on, till sense

Grew dim, and dimmer; and a terrible sleep

gaze

(In which still still those livid eyes met mine)

Fell on me- and

Eveline.

O, such memories
Make earth, forever after, nearer heaven,
And each new hour an altar for thanksgiving.
Lady M.

listen.

Break not the tale my ear yet strains to

Vyvyan. True lion of the ocean was the chief Of that good ship. Beneath his fostering eyes, Nor all ungraced by Drake's illustrious praise, And the frank clasp of Raleigh's kingly hand, I fought my way to manhood. At his death The veteran left me a more absolute throne Than Cæsar filled his war-ship; for my realm Add to the ocean, hope — and measure it! Nameless, I took his name. My tale is doneAnd each past sorrow, like a wave on shore, Dies on this golden hour. (Turns to Eveline.) Lady M. (Observing them.) He loves my ward, Whom Clarence, too that thought piles fear on fear;

Affords pretext to urge the secret nuptials,

And the prompt parting, ere he meet with Alton.
I - but till Nature sobs itself to peace,
Here's that which chokes all

not

reason. Will ye

Taste summer air, cooled through yon shadowy al

leys?

Anon I'll join you.
Vyvyan.

(Exit LADY MONTREVILLE.)

We will wait your leisure.

A most compassionate and courteous lady-
How couldst thou call her proud?

Eveline.

Nay, ever henceforth,

For the soft pity she hath shown to thee,
I'll love her as a mother.

1 SCUR'VY. Bad; sorry.

2 IN-STINCTIVE. Natural; involuntary. 3 EL DO-RÄ'DŌ. A proverbial term for an imaginary country abounding in gold

or other rich products of nature.

of enchanting and charming by their

song any one who heard them.

5 CÃI’TJFF. Base.

HŎR'RENT. Pointed outwards; standing out like bristles.

SI'REN. One of the three sea-nymphs7 LIV'ID. Discolored; black and blue.

who were believed to have the power

LV. — A LEGEND OF BREGENZ.1

ADELAIDE A. PROCTER.

1. GIRT2 round with rugged mountains
The fair Lake Constance lies;

In her blue heart reflected

Shine back the starry skies;
And watching each white cloudlet
Float silently and slow,

You think a piece of heaven
Lies on our earth below!

2. And Bregenz, that quaint3 city
Upon the Tyrol shore,

Has stood above Lake Constance

A thousand years and more.