But my heart it is brighter
Than all of the many
Stars in the sky,

For it sparkles with Annie-
It glows with the light

Of the love of my Annie·
With the thought of the light
Of the eyes of my Annie.

TO

HEED not that my earthly lot
Hath little of Earth in it
That years of love have been forgot
In the hatred of a minute
I mourn not that the desolate
Are happier, sweet, than I,
But that you sorrow for my fate
Who am a passer-by.

BRIDAL BALLAD.

HE ring is on my hand,

And the wreath is on my brow;

Satins and jewels grand

Are all at my command,
And I am happy now.

And my lord he loves me well

But, when first he breathed his vow, I felt my bosom swell

For the words rang as a knell,

And the voice seemed his who fell

In the battle down the dell,

And who is happy now.

But he spoke to reassure me,
And he kissed my pallid brow,
While a reverie came o'er me,
And to the church-yard bore me,
And I sighed to him before me,
Thinking him dead D'Elormie,
"Oh, I am happy now!"

And thus the words were spoken,
And this the plighted vow,
And, though my faith be broken,
And, though my heart be broken,
Behold the golden token

That proves me happy now!
Would God I could awaken!
For I dream I know not how,
And my soul is sorely shaken
Lest an evil step be taken,
Lest the dead who is forsaken

May not be happy now.

B

TO F.

ELOVED! amid the earnest woes

That crowd around my earthly path(Drear path, alas! where grows

Not even one lonely rose)

My soul at least a solace hath

In dreams of thee, and therein knows
An Eden of bland repose.

And thus my memory is to me

Like some enchanted far-off isle In some tumultuous sea

Some ocean throbbing far and free

With storms - but where meanwhile Serenest skies continually

Just o'er that one bright island smile.

SCENES FROM "POLITIAN";

AN UNPUBLISHED DRAMA.

I.

ROME. - A Hall in a Palace. Alessandra and Castiglione.

LESSANDRA. Thou art sad, Castiglione,
Castiglione. Sad! not I.

Oh, I'm the happiest, happiest man in Rome!
A few days more, thou knowest, my Alessandra,
Will make thee mine. Oh, I am very happy!

Aless. Methinks thou hast a singular way of showing
Thy happiness! what ails thee, cousin of mine?
Why didst thou sigh so deeply?

Cas. Did I sigh?

I was not conscious of it. It is a fashion,
A silly a most silly fashion I have

When I am very happy. Did I sigh?

Aless.

Thou didst. Thou art not well.

indulged

Too much of late, and I am vexed to see it.
Late hours and wine, Castiglione, - these
Will ruin thee! thou art already altered
Thy looks are haggard

(Sighing.)

Thou hast

nothing so wears away

The constitution as late hours and wine.

Cas. (musing). Nothing, fair cousin, nothing-not even deep sorrow

Wears it away like evil hours and wine.

I will amend.

Aless. Do it! I would have thee drop Thy riotous company, too

fellows low born

Ill suit the like with old Di Broglio's heir
And Alessandra's husband.

Cas. I will drop them.
Aless.

Thou wilt

more

thou must. Attend thou also

To thy dress and equipage they are over plain
For thy lofty rank and fashion - much depends
Upon appearances.

Cas. I'll see to it.

Aless. Then see to it ! pay more attention, sir, To a becoming carriage — much thou wantest

In dignity.

Cas.

Much, much, oh much I want

In proper dignity.

Aless. (haughtily). Thou mockest me, sir!
Cas. (abstractedly). Sweet, gentle Lalage!

Aless. Heard I aright?

I speak to him he speaks of Lalage!

Sir Count! (places her hand on his shoulder) what art thou 'dreaming? he's not well!

What ails thee, sir?