THEKLA AT HER LOVER'S GRAVE.'

Thither where he lies buried!

That single spot is the whole world to me.

COLERIDGE'S Wallenstein.

THY voice was in my soul! it call'd me on:
O my lost friend! thy voice was in my soul :
From the cold, faded world, whence thou art gone,
To hear no more life's troubled billows roll,
I come, I come!

Now speak to me again! we loved so well-
We loved! oh! still, I know that still we love!
I have left all things with thy dust to dwell,
Through these dim aisles in dreams of thee to rove;
This is my home!

Speak to me in the thrilling minster's gloom!
Speak! thou hast died, and sent me no farewell!
I will not shrink;-oh! mighty is the tomb,
But one thing mightier, which it cannot quell,
This woman's heart!

This lone, full, fragile heart!-the strong alone
In love and grief-of both the burning shrine!
Thou, my soul's friend! with grief hast surely done,
But with the love which made thy spirit mine,
Say, couldst thou part?

'See Wallenstein, Act 6.

THEKLA AT HER LOVER'S GRAVE.

I hear the rustling banners; and I hear

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The winds low singing through the fretted stone? I hear not thee; and yet I feel thee near

What is this bound that keeps thee from thine own? Breathe it away!

I wait thee-I adjure thee! hast thou known
How I have loved thee? couldst thou dream it all?
Am I not here with night and death alone,
And fearing not? and hath my spirit's call
O'er thine no sway?

Thou canst not come! or thus I should not weep!
Thy love is deathless-but no longer free!
Soon would its wing triumphantly o'ersweep
The viewless barrier, if such power might be,
Soon, soon, and fast!

But I shall come to thee! our souls' deep dreams, Our young affections, have not gush'd in vain; Soon in one tide shall blend the sever'd streams, The worn heart break its bonds-and death and pain

Be with the past!

THE SISTERS OF SCIO.

As our hearts, our way is one,

And cannot be divided. Strong affection
Contends with all things, and o'ercometh all things.
Will I not live with thee? will I not cheer thee?
Wouldst thou be lonely then? wouldst thou be sad?
JOANNA BAILLIE.

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SISTER, Sweet Sister! let me weep awhile! Bear with me-give the sudden passion way! Thoughts of our own lost home, our sunny isle, Come, as a wind that o'er a reed hath sway; Till my heart dies with yearnings and sick fears ;Oh! could my heart melt from me in these tears!

"Our father's voice, our mother's gentle eye,

Our brother's bounding step-where are they, where?

Desolate, desolate our chambers lie!

-How hast thou won thy spirit from despair? O'er mine swift shadows, gusts of terror, sweep ;I sink away-bear with me-let me weep!"

"Yes! weep, my Sister! weep, till from thy heart The weight flow forth in tears; yet sink thou not! I bind my sorrow to a lofty part,

For thee, my gentle one! our orphan lot To meet in quenchless trust; my soul is strong Thou, too, wilt rise in holy might ere long.

THE SISTERS OF SCIO.

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"A breath of our free heavens and noble sires,
A memory of our old victorious dead,-
These mantle me with power! and though their fires
In a frail censer briefly may be shed,

Yet shall they light us onward side by side;-
Have the wild birds, and have not we, a guide?

"Cheer, then, beloved! on whose meek brow is set Our mother's image-in whose voice a tone, A faint sweet sound of hers, is lingering yet,

An echo of our childhood's music gone;

Cheer thee! thy Sister's heart and faith are high; Our path is one-with thee I live and die!"

BERNARDO DEL CARPIO.

The celebrated Spanish champion, Bernardo del Carpio, having made many ineffectual efforts to procure the release of his father, the Count Saldana, who had been imprisoned by King Alfonso of Asturias, almost from the time of Bernardo's birth, at last took up arms in despair. The war which he maintained proved so destructive, that the men of the land gathered round the King, and united in demanding Saldana's liberty. Alfonso, accordingly, offered Bernardo immediate possession of his father's person, in exchange for his castle of Carpio. Bernardo, without hesitation, gave up his strong hold, with all his captives; and being assured that his father was then on his way from prison, rode forth with the King to meet him. "And when he saw his father approaching, he exclaimed," says the ancient chronicle, "Oh, God! is the Count of Saldana indeed coming?'-'Look where he is,' replied the cruel King, ‘and now go and greet him whom you have so long desired to see.' The remainder of the story will be found related in the ballad. The chronicles and romances leave us nearly in the dark as to Bernardo's history after this event.

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THE warrior bow'd his crested head, and tamed his heart of fire,

And sued the haughty king to free his long-imprison'd sire;

"I bring thee here my fortress keys, I bring my captive train,

I pledge thee faith, my liege, my lord!-oh, break my father's chain!”