THE KING AND THE NIGHTINGALES.

It loves the sunlight, loves the face of man,
And takes all virtuous pleasure that it can
Shares in each harmless joy that Nature gives,
Bestows its sympathy on all that lives,
Sings with the bird, rejoices with the bee,
And, wise as manhood, sports with infancy.
Let not the nightingales disturb thy prayers,
But make thy thanksgiving as pure as theirs;
So shall it mount on wings of love to heaven,
And thou, forgiving, be thyself forgiven.'

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The calm voice ceased; - King Edward dared not look,

But bent to earth, and blushed at the rebuke;
And though he closed his eyes and hid his face,
He knew the saint had vanished from the place.
And when he rose, ever the wild woods rang
With the sweet song the birds of evening sang.
No more he cursed them; loitering on his way
He listened pleased, and blessed them for their lay,
And on the morrow quitted Havering

To mix with men, and be again a king,

And fasting, moaning, scorning, praying less,
Increased in virtue and in happiness.

EVERMORE-NEVERMORE.

'WILT thou run to me for ever?' Said the ocean to the river.

'Will ye ever fall on my hills and plains?

Said the dry land to the rains.

'Will ye ever blossom while I sing?' Said the lark to the flowers of spring. 'Will

ye ever ripen while I shine?' Said the sun to the corn and vine. And ever the answer the breezes bore Was, 'Evermore—for Evermore.'

'As long as all these things shall be,' Said I, to Rosa kissing me,

'Shall Truth be sharper than a sword?
Shall kindness be its own reward?

Shall a free heart smooth the roughest way?
Shall Hope shed light on the darkest day?
Shall tempests spare the reeds that bow,
And thou love me as thou lovest now?'
And ever the answer her sweet lips bore
Was, 'Evermore—for evermore.'

'But shall I ever come back from thee?'

Said the river to the sea;

'Or I?' said the flower that Rosa threw Into its waters bright and blue.

6 Will ye bloom again on the summer eves?'

Said the tree to its withered leaves.

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'Wilt thou fall again when the north winds blow?' Said the grass to the melting snow.

And ever the answer the breezes bore

'If such the rule beneath the skies,' Said Rosa, gazing in my eyes,

'Shall Duty quit the debt we owe her,

Or blisses fail the bliss bestower?

Shall a miser's heart be improved by his gold?
Shall the wealth of love be ever told?

Or thou prove false to the tender vow
Thou swearest and repeatest now?'

And

aye the answer my true lips bore Was Nevermore — oh, nevermore.'

THE TRUE COMPANION.

GIVE me the man, however old and staid,
Or worn with sorrow and perplexity,
Who, when he walks in sunshine or in shade,
By woodland bowers, or bare beach of the sea,
O'er hill-top, or in valleys green with me,
Throws off his age, and gambols like a child,
And finds a boyish pleasure in the wild,
Rejuvenescent on the flowery lea:
Him shall the years press lightly as he goes;
The kindly wisdom gathered in the fields
Shall be his antidote to worldly woes;

And the o'erflowing joy that nature yields
To her true lovers, shall his heart enclose,

And blunt the shafts of care like iron shields.

WELCOME BACK.

SWEET Songs of nightingale and lark
That greet the golden dawn,
Or twilight deepening into dark,

By mountain, grove, or lawn;

Long days, clear nights, and balmy winds,
Fresh flowers and forest leaves,
Birds, blossoms, fruits of ruddy rinds,

New hay, and barley sheaves;
All joys of nature, sounds or sights
Of forest, stream, or plain,

Ye're welcome, welcome, welcome ever,

And welcome back again.

Fair hopes, forgotten 'mid our toils;
Sweet visions dreamed of yore,
Calm thoughts effaced in life's turmoils,
Old songs we've sung before;
Forgotten comrades, friends estranged,
Acquaintance o'er the seas,

Old feelings weakened, lost, or changed,
And youthful memories;