When forth I go upon my way, a thousand toys are mine, The clusters of dark violets, the wreaths of the wild vine ; My jewels are the primrose pale, the bind-weed, and the rose; And show me any courtly gem more beautiful than those. And then the fruit! the glowing fruit, how sweet the scent it breathes ! I love to see its crimson cheek rest on the bright green leaves ! Summer's own gift of luxury, in which the poor may share, The wild-wood fruit my eager eye is seeking everywhere. Oh! summer is a pleasant time, with all its sounds and sights; Its dewy mornings, balmy eves, and tranquil calm delights; I sigh when first I see the leaves fall yellow on the plain, And all the winter long I sing-Sweet summer, come again. LORD ULLIN'S DAUGHTER.-Campbell. A chieftain, to the Highlands bound, To row us o'er the ferry." "Now, who be ye would cross Loch-Gyle, This dark and stormy water?" "Oh! I'm the chief of Ulva's Isle, And this Lord Ullin's daughter. "And fast before her father's men Three days we've fled together, For should he find us in the glen, My blood would stain the heather. "His horsemen hard behind us ride; Out spoke the hardy Highland wight, "And, by my word! the bonny bird By this the storm grew loud apace, But still as wilder blew the wind, 66 "O haste, thee, haste!" the lady cries, The boat has left a stormy land, When, oh! too strong for human hand, And still they rowed, amidst the roar Lord Ullin reached that fatal shore- For sore dismayed, through storm and shade, One lovely arm was stretched for aid, And one was round her lover. "Come back! come back!" he cried in grief, "Across this stormy water; And I'll forgive your Highland chief My daughter!-oh! my daughter!" 'Twas vain!—the loud waves lashed the shore, The waters wild went o'er his child- THE THREE FISHERS.-Kingsley. THREE fishers went sailing away to the West, Three wives sat up in the lighthouse tower, And they trimmed the lamps as the sun went down ; They looked at the squall, and they looked at the shower, And the night-rack came rolling up ragged and brown. But men must work, and women must weep, Though storms be sudden, and waters deep, And the harbour bar be moaning. Three corpses lay out on the shining sands In the morning gleam as the tide went down, And the women are weeping and wringing their hands For those who will never come home to the town; For men must work, and women must weep, And the sooner 'tis over, the sooner to sleep, And good-bye to the bar and its moaning. RULE, BRITANNIA.-Thomson. WHEN Britain first, at Heaven's command, This was the charter of the land, And guardian angels sung the strain: The nations not so blest as thee Still more majestic shalt thou rise, More dreadful from each foreign stroke; Thee haughty tyrants ne'er shall tame; And work their woe and thy renown. To thee belongs the rural reign; Thy cities shall with commerce shine; The muses, still with freedom found, Blest isle, with matchless beauty crowned, COMMONWEALTH OF BEES.-Shakspeare. So work the honey bees; Creatures, that by a rule in nature, teach PEACE.-Herbert. SWEET Peace, where dost thou dwell? I humbly crave Let me once know. I sought thee in a secret cave, And asked if Peace were there. A hollow wind did seem to answer, “No ; Go seek elsewhere." |