YOUTH AND AGE.*

VERSE, a breeze mid blossoms straying,
Where Hope clung feeding, like a bee—
Both were mine! Life went a Maying
With Nature, Hope, and Poesy,
When I was young!

When I was young?—Ah, woful when !
Ah! for the change 'twixt Now and Then!
This breathing house not built with hands,
This body that does me grievous wrong,
O'er aery cliffs and glittering sands,
How lightly then it flashed along :—
Like those trim skiffs, unknown of yore,
On winding lakes and rivers wide,

That ask no aid of sail or oar,

That fear no spite of wind or tide!

Nought cared this body for wind or weather When youth and I liv'd in't together.

Flowers are lovely; Love is flower-like;
Friendship is a sheltering tree;

O! the joys, that came down shower-like,
Of Friendship, Love, and Liberty,

Ere I was old.

* See Note.

Ere I was old? Ah woful Ere,
Which tells me, Youth's no longer here!
O youth! for years so many and sweet,
'Tis known, that Thou and I were one,
I'll think it but a fond conceit

It cannot be, that thou art gone!
Thy vesper-bell hath not yet toll'd:-
And thou wert aye a masker bold!
What strange disguise hast now put on,
To make believe, that Thou art gone?
I see these locks in silvery slips,
This drooping gait, this altered size:
But springtide blossoms on thy lips,
And tears take sunshine from thine eyes!
Life is but thought: so think I will
That youth and I are house-mates still.

Dew-drops are the gems of morning,
But the tears of mournful eve!
Where no hope is, life's a warning
That only serves to make us grieve,
When we are old:

That only serves to make us grieve,
With oft and tedious taking-leave,
Like some poor nigh-related guest,
That not rudely be dismist.
Yet hath outstay'd his welcome while,
And tells the jest without the smile.

may

THE EXCHANGE.

WE pledged our hearts, my love and I,—
I in my arms the maiden clasping;
I could not tell the reason why,

But, oh! I trembled like an aspen.

Her father's love she bade me gain;
I went, and shook like any reed!
I strove to act the man-in vain !
We had exchanged our hearts indeed.

THE ALIENATED MISTRESS:

A MADRIGAL.

(FROM AN UNFINISHED MELODRAMA.)

Lady. If Love be dead, (and you aver it!) Tell me, Bard! where Love lies buried.

Poet. Love lies buried where 'twas born:
Ah, faithless Nymph! think it no scorn
If in my fancy I presume

To name thy bosom poor Love's Tomb.
And on that Tomb to read the line,-
"Here lies a Love that once was mine,
But took a chill, as I divine,

And died at length of a decline."

THE SUICIDE'S ARGUMENT.

ERE the birth of my life, if I wish'd it or no,
No question was ask'd me-it could not be so!
If the life was the question, a thing sent to try,
And to live on be Yes; what can No be? to die.

NATURE'S ANSWER.

Is't returned, as 'twas sent? Is't no worse for the wear?

Think first, what you are! Call to mind what you were!

I gave you innocence, I gave you hope,

Gave health, and genius, and an ample scope.
Return you me guilt, lethargy, despair?
Make out the invent'ry; inspect, compare!
Then die-if die you dare!

TO A LADY.

"Tis not the lily brow I prize,
Nor roseate cheeks nor sunny eyes,
Enough of lilies and of roses!

A thousand fold-more dear to me

The look that gentle Love discloses,—

That look which Love alone can see.

SANCTI DOMINICI PALLIUM;

A DIALOGUE BETWEEN POET AND FRIEND,

FOUND WRITTEN ON THE BLANK LEAF AT THE BEGINNING OF BUTLER'S BOOK OF THE CHURCH.

POET.

I NOTE the moods and feelings men betray,
And heed them more than aught they do or say;
The lingering ghosts of many a secret deed
Still-born or haply strangled in its birth;

These best reveal the smooth man's inward creed!
These mark the spot where lies the treasure
Worth!

made up of impudence and trick, With cloven tongue prepared to hiss and lick, Rome's brazen serpent-boldly dares discuss The roasting of thy heart, O brave John Huss ! And with grim triumph and a truculent glee Absolves anew the Pope-wrought perfidy, That made an empire's plighted faith a lie, And fix'd a broad stare on the Devil's eye(Pleased with the guilt, yet envy-stung at heart To stand outmaster'd in his own black art!) Yet