THERE never yet was flower fair in vain, Ah, weary bird ! thou wilt not fly again : Thy wings are clipped, thou canst no more de. The seasons toil that it may blow again, part, III. The silver phantom of the perfect sphere, Held in its bosom : in one glory now Not the sweet moon of bridal only — we One pure and rounded light, one planet whole, For worldlings cannot, struggle as they may, One life developed, one completed soul ! From man's great soulone great thought hide away. For I in thee, and thou in me, Unite our cloven halves of destiny. IV. see BAYARD TAYLOR. I THOUGHT our love at full, but I did err; God knew his chosen time. And from my boughs withheld the promised fruit, Thou art become my blood, my life, my light: Deep in my soul another bond to thee God's mercy thou, and therefore shalt endure. Thrill with that life we saw depart from her; O mother of our angel child ! twice dear ! Death knits as well as parts, and still, I wis, Her tender radince shall infold us here, THE DAY RETURNS, MY BOSOM BURNS. The blissful day we twa did meet; Ne'er summer sun was half sae sweet. And crosses o'er the sultry line, Than kingly robes, and crowns and globes, Heaven gave me more ; it made thee mine. " It was our wedding-day I. While day and night can bring delight, A month ago," dear heart, I hear you say. Or nature aught of pleasure give, For thee and thee alone I live; When that grim foe of life below Of joyous bells, and then I held you fast, Comes in between to make us part, And all stood back, and none my right denied, The iron hand that breaks our band, And forth we walked : the world was free and wide It breaks my bliss, it breaks my heart. Before us. Since that day I count my life : the Past is washed away. ROBERT BURNS. II. THE POET'S BRIDAL-DAY SONG. It was no dream, that vow : 0, my love 's like the steadfast sun, Nor mirth, nor sweetest song that flows Even while I muse, I see thee sit Time, like the wingéd wind When 't bends the flowers, Hath left no mark behind, To count the hours ! On thee he leaves ; Perhaps he weaves ; For joys scarce known ; All else is flown ! I mourn and sing ! Like sudden spring ! Like a pleasant rhyme, To thee and time ! BARRY CORNWALL. IF THOU WERT BY MY SIDE, MY LOVE. Though I see smiling at thy feet If thou wert by my side, my love, How fast would evening fail In green Bengala's palmy grove, Listening the nightingale ! If thou, my love, wert by my side, My babies at my knee, O'er Gunga's mimic sea ! When, on our deck reclined, And woo the cooler wind. I miss thee when by Gunga's stream My twilight steps I guide, But most beneath the lamp's pale beam I miss thee from my side. I spread my books, my pencil try, The lingering noon to cheer, But miss thy kind, approving eye, Thy meek, attentive ear. ALLAN CUNNINGHAM. THE POET'S SONG TO HIS WIFE. But when at morn and eve the star Beholds me on my knee, Thy prayers ascend for me. My course be onward still, O'er broad Hindostan's sultry meads, O'er bleak Almorah's hill. How many summers, love, Have I been thine ? How many days, thou dove, Hast thou been mine? That course nor Delhi's kingly gates, Nor mild Malwah detain ; By yonder western main. Across the dark blue sea ; As then shall meet in thee ! Nor how I doated on you ; 0, how proud I was of you! But did I love you more than now, when this old ring was new ? REGINALD HEBER. No- no! no fairer were you then than at this hour to me; And, dear as life to me this day, how could you dearer be? As sweet your face might be that day as now it is, 't is true; But did I know your heart as well when this old ring was new ? ! JOHN ANDERSON, MY JO. John ANDERSON, my jo, John, When we were first acquent, Your locks were like the raven, Your bonnie brow was brent ; But now your brow is beld, John, Your locks are like the snaw; But blessings on your frosty pow, O partner of my gladness, wife, what care, what grief is there For me you would not bravely face, with me you would not share ? O, what a weary want had every day, if wanting John Anderson, my jo. We clamb the hill thegither ; We've had wi' ane anither. But hand in hand we'll go : ROBERT BURNS. you, Wanting the love that God made mine when this old ring was new! Years bring fresh links to bind us, wife, — young voices that are here; Young faces round our fire that make their mother's yet more dear; Young loving hearts your care each day makes yet more like to you, More like the loving heart made mine when this old ring was new. THE WORN WEDDING-RING. Your wedding-ring wears thin, dear wife ; ah, And blessed be God ! all he has given are with summers not a few, us yet ; around Since I put it on your finger first, have passed | Our table every precious life lent to us still is o'er me and you ; found. And, love, what changes we have seen, what Though cares we've known, with hopeful hearts cares and pleasures, too, the worst we've struggled through ; Since you became my own dear wife, when this Blessed be his name for all his love since this old ring was new ! old ring was new! my life, 0, blessings on that happy day, the happiest of The past is dear, its sweetness still our memo ries treasure yet ; When, thanks to God, your low, sweet “Yes” The griefs we've borne, together borne, we would not now forget. made you my loving wife ! Your heart will say the same, I know; that Whatever, wife, the future brings, heart unto heart still true, day's as dear to you, That day that made me yours, dear wife, when We 'll share as we have shared all else since this old ring was new. this old ring was new. How well do I remember now your young sweet And if God spare us 'mongst our sons and daughface that day! ters to grow old, How fair you were, how dear you were, my We know his goodness will not let your heart tongue could hardly say ; or mine grow cold. |