Fair Salome, who did excel The damsel back; to Herod said, When painters would by art express Beauty in unloveliness, Thee, Herodias' daughter, thee, They fittest subject take to be. They give thy form and features grace; Of feeling for the ruthless deed, A cruel triumph, wicked pride, That for your sport a saint had died. LINES ON THE CELEBRATED PICTURE BY LEONARDO DA VINCI, CALLED THE VIRGIN OF THE ROCKS. WHILE young John runs to greet The greater Infant's feet, The Mother standing by, with trembling passion Of devout admiration, Beholds the engaging mystic play, and pretty adora tion; Nor knows as yet the full event Of those so low beginnings, From whence we date our winnings, But wonders at the intent Of those new rites, and what that strange child-wor ship meant. But at her side An angel doth abide, With such a perfect joy As no dim doubts alloy, A glory, an amenity, Of blind humanity, As if he surely knew All the blest wonder should ensue, Or he had lately left the upper sphere, And had read all the sovran schemes and divine riddles there. ON THE SAME. MATERNAL lady with the virgin grace, Lady most perfect, when thy sinless face. A Catholic, Madonna fair, to worship thee. 5 ANGEL HELP.* THIS rare tablet doth include Past midnight this poor maid hath spun, Sleep, saintly poor one! sleep, sleep on; *Suggested by a drawing in the possession of Charles Aders, Esq., in which is represented the legend of a poor female saint: who, having spun past midnight, to maintain a bed-rid mother, has fallen asleep from fatigue, and angels are finishing her work. In another part of the chamber an angel is tending a lily, the emblem of purity. Now on that aged face they fix, And equal thoughts to live or die. Heaven's sunshine, Heaven's dews. 'Tis a type, and 'tis a pledge, Of a crowning privilege. Careful as that lily flower, This Maid must keep her precious dower; Martyr to virginity. ON AN INFANT DYING AS SOON AS BORN. I SAW where in the shroud did lurk A curious frame of Nature's work. A floweret crushed in the bud, A nameless piece of Babyhood, |