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XI. AND XII.

First two lines, excited narrative-Imitative modulation on 'slowly ;" "O God!" exclamation of shrinking terror-high husky and exasperated tone. Stanza XII. and the remainder of Stanza XI., a breaking down from the fearful climax of excitement and terror. Such passages owe very much of their effect to an apposite gesticulation and physiognomical action.

XIII.

With the exception of the parenthetical "he cried," pronounced with a sepulchral depth and solemnity of tone-very slow monotone with the exception of "perjury," which partakes of the character of a shriek. "Bride" is also pronounced in a higher key than the monotone.

XIV.

Excited and solemn narrative.

XV. AND XVI.

Slow and grave narrative, with an expression of terror-imitative modulation on "shriek," and "whirls."

XVII.

First three lines solemn and grave narrative, with expression of terror-the toast partakes of the character of a wierd and horrible howl.

ALONZO THE BRAVE AND THE FAIR IMOGENE.

I.

A WARRIOR So bold and a virgin so bright,
Conversed as they sat on the green;

They gazed on each other with tender delight,
Alonzo the Brave was the name of the Knight—
And the maiden's the Fair Imogene.

II.

"And oh!" said the youth, "since to-morrow I go To fight in a far distant land,

Your tears for my absence soon ceasing to flow,
Some other will court you, and you will bestow
On a wealthier suitor your hand!"

III.

"Oh! hush these suspicions," Fair Imogene said, "Offensive to love and to me ;

For, if you be living, or if you be dead,

I swear by the Virgin that none in your stead
Shall husband of Imogene be.

IV.

"If e'er by caprice or by wealth led aside,

I forget my Alonzo the Brave,

God grant that, to punish my falsehood and pride,
Your ghost at my marriage may sit by my side-
May tax me with perjury, claim me as bride,
And bear me away to the grave !"

V.

To Palestine hasten'd the hero so bold,

His love she lamented him sore;

But scarce had a twelvemonth elapsed, when, behold
A baron, all cover'd with jewels and gold,
Arrived at Fair Imogene's door.

VI.

His treasures, his presents, his spacious domain,
Soon made her untrue to her vows;

He dazzled her eyes, he bewilder'd her brain ;
He caught her affections, so light and so vain,
And carried her home as his spouse.

VII.

And now had the marriage been blest by the priest; The revelry now was begun ;

The tables they groan'd with the weight of the feast, Nor yet had the laughter and merriment ceased, When the bell at the castle toll'd-one.

VIII.

Then first with amaze Fair Imogene found
A stranger was placed by her side:
His air was terrific; he utter'd no sound-
He spake not, he moved not, he look'd not around
But earnestly gazed on the bride.

IX.

His vizor was closed, and gigantic his height,

His armour was sable to view;

All pleasure and laughter were hush'd at his sight; The dogs, as they eyed him, drew back in affright; The lights in the chamber burn'd blue!

X.

His presence all bosoms appear'd to dismay;
The guests sat in silence and fear;

At length spake the bride, while she trembled, "I pray,
Sir knight, that your helmet aside you would lay,
And deign to partake of our cheer."

XI.

The lady is silent-the stranger complies―

His vizor he slowly unclosed;

O God! what a sight met Fair Imogene's eyes!
What words can express her dismay and surprise,
When a skeleton's head was exposed!

XII.

All present then utter'd a terrified shout,
All shrunk with disgust from the scene;

The worms they crept in, and the worms they crept out,
And sported his eyes and his temples about,
While the spectre address'd Imogene :-

XIII.

"Behold me, thou false one, behold me!" he cried,
"Remember Alonzo the Brave!

God grants that, to punish thy falsehood and pride,
My ghost at thy marriage should sit by thy side-
Should tax thee with perjury, claim thee as bride,
And bear thee away to the grave !"

XIV.

Thus saying, his arms round the lady he wound,
While loudly she shriek'd in dismay;

Then sunk with his prey through the wide-yawning ground,
Nor ever again was Fair Imogene found,

Or the spectre that bore her away.

XV.

Not long lived the baron; and none, since that time,

To inhabit the castle presume ;

For chronicles tell that, by order sublime,

There Imogene suffers the pain of her crime,

And mourns her deplorable doom.

XVI.

At midnight, four times in each year, does her sprite,

When mortals in slumber are bound,

Arrayed in her bridal apparel of white,

Appear in the hall with the skeleton knight,

And shriek as he whirls her around!

XVII.

While they drink out of skulls newly torn from the grave, Dancing round them the spectres are seen;

Their liquor is blood, and this horrible stave

They howl :-" To the health of Alonzo the Brave, And his consort, the Fair Imogene !"

MATTHEW GREGORY LEWIS.

THE OLD AND NEW YEAR.

(From "In Memoriam.")

RING Out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light;
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow;
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more;
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,

And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out, my mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.