You sent betimes. Not yet unbarr'd
I found the middle door-
Two stirrers only met my eyes,
Fair Alice, and one more.

I came unlook'd for: and, it seem'd,
In an unwelcome hour;

And found the daughter of Du Clos
Within the lattic'd bower.

But hush the rest may wait. If lost,
No great loss, I divine;

And idle words will better suit
A fair maid's lips than mine."

"God's wrath! speak out, man," Julian cried, O'ermaster'd by the sudden smartAnd feigning wrath, sharp, blunt, and rude, The knight his subtle shift pursued."Scowl not at me; command my skill, To lure your hawk back, if you will, But not a woman's heart.

'Go! (said she) tell him-slow is sure, Fair speed his shafts to-day!

I follow here a stronger lure,

And chase a gentler prey.'

The game, pardie, was full in sight,
That then did, if I saw aright,
The fair dame's eyes engage;
For turning, as I took my ways,
I saw them fix'd with steadfast gaze
Full on her wanton page."

The last word of the traitor knight
It had but entered Julian's ear-
From two o'erarching oaks between,
With glist'ning helm-like cap is seen,
Borne on in giddy cheer,

A youth, that ill his steed can guide ;
Yet with reverted face doth ride,
As answering to a voice,

That seems at once to laugh and chide"Not mine, dear mistress," still he cried, "'Tis this mad filly's choice."

With sudden bound, beyond the boy,
See! see! that face of hope and joy,
That regal front! those cheeks aglow ?
Thou needed'st but the cresceut sheen,
A quiver'd Dian to have been,

Thou lovely child of old Du Clos !

Dark as a dream Lord Julian stood,
Swift as a dream, from forth the wood,
Sprang on the plighted Maid!
With fatal aim, and frantic force,
The shaft was hurl'd !--a lifeless corse,
Fair Alice from her vaulting horse,
Lies bleeding on the glade.

FIRE, FAMINE, AND SLAUGHTER.

A WAR ECLOGUE.

The Scene a desolated Track in La Vendée. FAMINE is discovered lying on the ground; to her enter FIRE and SLAUGHTER.

Spirits hear what spirits tell :
"Twill make a holiday in Hell.
No! no! no!

Myself, I named him once below,
And all the souls, that damned be,
Leaped up at once in anarchy,

Clapped their hands and danced for glee.
They no longer heeded me;

But laughed to hear Hell's burning rafters
Unwillingly re-echo laughters !
No! no! no!

Spirits hear what spirits tell :
"Twill make a holiday in JIell!

FAMINE.

Whisper it, sister! so and so!
In a dark hint, soft and slow.

SLAUGHTER.

Letters four do form his name
And who sent you?

BOTH.

The same! the same!

SLAUGHTER.

He came by stealth, and unlocked my den,
And I have drunk the blood since then
Of thrice three hundred thousand men.

Letters four do form his name.

He let me loose, and cried, Halloo!

To him alone the praise is due.

FAMINE.

Thanks, sister, thanks! the men have bled,

Their wives and their children faint for bread.

I stood in a swampy field of battle;
With bones and skulls I made a rattle,
To frighten the wolf and carrion-crow,
And the homeless dog-but they would not go.
So off I flew for how could I bear
To see them gorge their dainty fare?
I heard a groan and a peevish squall,
And through the chink of a cottage-wall—
Can you guess what I saw there?

BOTH.

Whisper it, sister! in our ear.

FAMINE.

A baby beat its dying mother:

I had starved the one and was starving the other!

BOTH.

Who bade you do't?

FAMINE.

The same

the same!

Letters four do form his name.

He let me loose, and cried, Halloo !
To him alone the praise is due.

FIRE.

Sisters! I from Ireland came !
Hedge and cern-fields all on flame,