But oh! her beauty was far beyond

Her sparkling gems, or snow-white wand.

"Lady! dost thou not fear to stray,

So lone and lovely, through this bleak way?
Are Erin's sons so good or so cold,
As not to be tempted by woman or gold?"

"Sir Knight! I feel not the least alarm,

No son of Erin will offer me harm :-
For though they love woman and golden store,
Sir Knight! they love honour and virtue more!"

On she went, and her maiden smile

In safety lighted her round the Green Isle;
And blest for ever is she who relied

Upon Erin's honour and Erin's pride.

I SAW THY FORM IN YOUTHFUL PRIME.

SAW thy form in youthful prime,
Nor thought that pale decay
Would steal before the steps of Time,
And waste its bloom away, Mary!

Yet still thy features wore that light,
Which fleets not with the breath;
And life ne'er look'd more truly bright
Than in thy smile of death, Mary!

As streams that run o'er golden mines,
Yet humbly, calmly glide,

Nor seem to know the wealth that shines

Within their gentle tide, Mary!
So veil'd beneath the simplest guise,
Thy radiant genius shone,
And that, which charm'd all other eyes,
Seem'd worthless in thy own, Mary!

If souls could always dwell above,
Thou ne'er hadst left that sphere ;
Or could we keep the souls we love,
We ne'er had lost thee here, Mary!
Though many a gifted mind we meet,
Though fairest forms we see,
To live with them is far less sweet,
Than to remember thee, Mary!

TO LADIES' EYES.

O Ladies' eyes around, boy,

We can't refuse, we can't refuse,

Though bright eyes so abound, boy,

'Tis hard to choose, 't is hard to choose.

For thick as stars that lighten

Yon airy bow'rs, yon airy bow'rs,

The countless eyes that brighten

This earth of ours, this earth of ours.

But fill the cup-where'er, boy,

Our choice may fall, our choice may fall,

We're sure to find Love there, boy,

So drink them all! so drink them all!

Some looks there are so holy,

They seem but giv'n, they seem but giv'n, As shining beacons, solely,

To light to heav'n, to light to heav'n. While some-oh! ne'er believe themWith tempting ray, with tempting ray, Would lead us (God forgive them!)

The other way, the other way.

But fill the cup-where'er, boy,

Our choice may fall, our choice may fall,

We're sure to find Love there, boy,

So drink them all! so drink them all!

In some, as in a mirror,

Love seems portray'd, Love seems portray'd,

But shun the flatt'ring error,

'Tis but his shade, 'tis but his shade.

Himself has fix'd his dwelling

In eyes we know, in eyes we know,

And lips-but this is telling

So here they go! so here they go!

Fill up, fill up where'er, boy,

Our choice may fall, our choice may fall,

We're sure to find Love there, boy,

So drink them all! so drink them all!

I STOLE ALONG THE FLOWERY BANK.

Ενταύθα δε καθωρμισται ήμιν. και ό, τι μεν όνομα τη νησῳ, ουκ οίδα' χρυση δ' την προς γε εμου ονομαζοιτο.-PHILOSTRAT. Icon. 17, lib. ii.

STOLE along the flowery bank,

While many a bending sea-grape drank
The sprinkle of the feathery oar
That wing'd me round this fairy shore.

'T was noon; and every orange bud
Hung languid o'er the crystal flood,
Faint as the lids of maiden's eyes
When love-thoughts in her bosom rise.
Oh, for a naiad's sparry bower,
To shade me in that glowing hour!

A little dove, of milky hue,
Before me from a plantain flew,
And, light along the water's brim,
I steer'd my gentle bark by him;
For fancy told me, Love had sent
This gentle bird with kind intent
To lead my steps, where I should meet-
I knew not what, but something sweet.

And-bless the little pilot dove!

He had indeed been sent by Love,
To guide me to a scene so dear
As fate allows but seldom here;
One of those rare and brilliant hours,
That, like the aloe's lingering flowers,
May blossom to the eye of man

But once in all his weary span.

Just where the margin's op'ning shade A vista from the waters made,

My bird reposed his silver plume
Upon a rich banana's bloom.
Oh vision bright! oh spirit fair!

What spell, what magic raised her there?