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23. At the first leaf she grew pale enough,
At the second she turned aside,
At the third 'twas as if a lily flushed
With a rose's red heart's tide.

24." Good counsel gave the bird," said she;
"I have my hope thrice o'er,

For they sing to my very heart," she said,
"And it sings to them evermore."

25. She brought to him her beauty and truth,
But and broad earldoms three,

And he made her queen of the broader lands
He held of his lute in fee.

WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.

Born 1794-Died 1878.

ROBERT OF LINCOLN.

1. Merrily swinging on brier and weed,
Near to the nest of his little dame,
Over the mountain-side or mead,
Robert of Lincoln is telling his name:
Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,1

Spink, spank, spink ;

Snug and safe is that nest of ours,
Hidden among the summer flowers.
Chee, chee, chee.

2. Robert of Lincoln is gaily drest,

Wearing a bright black wedding-coat;

White are his shoulders and white his crest,
Hear him call in his merry note:

Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,

Spink, spank, spink;

Look what a nice new coat of mine,

Sure there was never a bird so fine.

Chee, chee, chee.

1 Bob-o'-link, the popular name of the rice-bird in the New England States.

3. Robert of Lincoln's Quaker wife,

Pretty and quiet, with plain brown wings,
Passing at home a patient life,

Broods in the grass while her husband sings:
Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,

Spink, spank, spink ;

Brood, kind creature; you need not fear
Thieves and robbers, while I am here.
Chee, chee, chee.

4. Modest and shy as a nun is she,
One weak chirp is her only note.
Braggart, and prince of braggarts, is he,
Pouring boasts from his little throat:
Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,

Spink, spank, spink;

Never was I afraid of man;

Catch me, cowardly knaves, if you can!
Chee, chee, chee.

5. Six white eggs on a bed of hay,

Flecked with purple, a pretty sight!
There as the mother sits all day,
Robert is singing with all his might :
Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,

Spink, spank, spink ;

Nice good wife that never goes out,
Keeping house while I frolic about.
Chee, chee, chee.

6. Soon as the little ones chip the shell,
Six wide mouths are open for food;
Robert of Lincoln bestirs him well,
Gathering seeds for the hungry brood:
Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,

Spink, spank, spink;

This new life is likely to be

Hard, for a gay young fellow like me.
Chee, chee, chee.

7. Robert of Lincoln at length is made Sober with work, and silent with care;

8. Off is his holiday garment laid, Half forgotten that merry air: Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,

Spink, spank, spink;

Nobody knows but my mate and I
Where our nest and our nestlings lie.
Chee, chee, chee.

9. Summer wanes; the children are grown ; Fun and frolic no more he knows ; Robert of Lincoln's a humdrum crone; Off he flies, and we sing as he goes: Bob-o'-link, bob-o'-link,

Spink, spank, spink;

When you can pipe that merry old strain,
Robert of Lincoln, come back again.
Chee, chee, chee.

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Bible - Wiclif's translation, 32, 171; Au- Colin Clout's Come Home Again, 43.

Battle of Gabhra, 12.

Beowulf, Story of, 14.

thorized version, 62.

Bothie, The, 162.

Brut, 21.

Comus, 68, 70.

Conscious Lovers, The, 110.

Coral Island, The, 159.

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