WORDSWORTH. 61 Not blither is the mountain roe; The storm came on before its time: The wretched parents all that night - When in the snow the mother spied They followed from the snowy bank Yet some maintain that to this day O'er rough and smooth she trips along, WORDSWORTH. Song. - On May Morning. Now the bright morning star, day's harbinger, Hail, bounteous May, that dost inspire Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing. MILTON. SHAKSPEARE. 63 Song. Blow, blow, thou winter wind, As man's ingratitude; Although thy breath be rude. Then, heigh ho, the holly! Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky, As benefits forgot : As friend remembered not. Then, heigh ho, the holly! SHAKSPEARE. - [From "As you like it."] The Romance of the Swan's Nest. “So the dreams depart, So the fading phantoms flee, WESTWOOD'S "Beads from a Rosary." I. Little Ellie sits alone 'Mid the beeches of a meadow, By a stream-side on the grass : And the trees are showering down Doubles of their leaves in shadow, On her shining hair and face. II. She has thrown her bonnet by; And her feet she has been dipping In the shallow water's flow – Now she holds them nakedly While she rocketh to and fro. III. Fills the silence like a speech ; While she thinks what shall be done,And the sweetest pleasure, chooseth, For her future within reach. ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING. 65 IV. Little Ellie, in her smile Riding on a steed of steeds! He shall love me without guile; And to him I will discover That swan's nest among the reeds. V. “And the steed shall be red-roan, And the lover shall be noble, With an eye that takes the breath,— And the lute he plays upon Shall strike ladies into trouble, As his sword strikes men to death. VI. “And the steed, it shall be shod All in silver, housed in azure, And the mane shall swim the wind; And the hoofs, along the sod, Till the shepherds look behind. VII. But lover will not prize All the glory that he rides in ; When he gazes in my face. He will say, 'O love, thine eyes Build the shrine my soul abides in; And I kneel here for thy grace.” |