66

witchery"

Go, proffer your homage
On lowly-bent knee-
I see them full well, yet
Believe me I've seen
Eyes sparkling more sweetly
Than those, where the sheen
Of art is so blended-

Bright beyond all compare;
And if e'er I bow low

To young beauty-'tis there

"See you not, see you not
Those young forms which in
Might put to the blush

The Venus de Medici ?"
Those young forms seem faultless
If closely you scan
Many "contours," you'll think of
"Madame Maradan”—(GG)

"See you not, see you not

What rich graces bedeck Yon gold-braided locks

And yon pearl-circled neck?" "I see them-I see them

The charms of the heart

Are more valued by me

Than the jewels of Art; Those gold-fetter'd locks Would be lovely, if freeFar different tresses

Are valued by me

(1842.)

T

HERE, there is mingled rapt Devotion's spell
With all the charms the worldly love so well;
Each adds to each its own peculiar grace,

Each blends with each in that fair maiden's face,
And Earth would fain a trifling portion share,
Though heav'nly musings are reflected there.

A FACT VERSIFIED.

(1840.)

SAY, Queen of Night, why doth thy silvery ray
Bid many a smother'd sigh to burst its way

Through thoughtful man's sad breast? 'tis wondrous strange—

The countless sorrows which triumphant range

Through the wide world, ne'er cause the heart to know Such pensive musings as thy radiant bow

Which shines so sweetly sad-a hapless girl

Caught in the vortex of mad "Fashion's" whirl,

Undone by arts which villains know too well,
At midnight trod the Liffey's banks; a hell
Made up of countless miseries rack'd her breast,
Her throbbing temples vainly long'd to rest
Lock'd in the arms of Sleep!-if e'er her eyes
By fitful snatches clos'd, instant arise
The scenes of happy childhood, ere the maid
Guiltless as yet, nor of her thoughts afraid,
Shrank from herself, and strove her breast within
To drown sharp anguish with the bowl of Sin-
Sleep came not to her prayers-sad she arose
And sought the river's bank; the wind which blows
At midnight fail'd to cool her fever'd brow

Whose contact warm'd the breeze; the sharpen'd plough
Of deep Remorse tore up her breast; her eye
Was moisten'd by the tears of agony ;

Bright beam'd the Moon, deep 'neath the river lay
The mimic splendour of her chasten'd ray;

She dar'd not look to heaven; her sin she thought
Was past forgiveness from her Maker-nought
On earth was left for her but bitter scorn

Sharpen'd by shame-that yet she might be "born.
Again' "15 she dar'd not hope-her frenzied brain
Thought that Death's hand alone could ease her pain-
"Where now my father's prayer, oft wont to bless
His daughter ere she slept ?-where the caress
Of her who gave me birth-thank God that she
Knows not how dark hath been my infamy-

15 John iii. 3, 5, 7.

(Such thoughts are madness surely-they are not— All which for one blest moment I forgot,

?

I feel again too deeply)-where the home
Replete with comfort which was once mine own
Where now the smiles of many a much-lov'd face
With kindness wont my father's halls to grace?
O God, forgive me-help me"-a bright ray
Of visionary bliss forc'd its glad way

Her aching heart within-her downcast eye
Gaz'd on the mimic moon, the spangled sky
Reflected in the waters-"Ah," (she cried
With frantic vehemence,) the demon lied

When whisp'ring, "Hope hath fled,"-"There there I see
Beneath those waves a haven yet for me

Bright as the realms above"-she veil'd her head

One fearful plunge-one struggle—she was dead.

LINES

ssed to a very dear friend, (I. W. C.) on the eve of his going abroad. (1842.)

COON, too soon alas! on the wild billows floating From the land of thy sires o'er the deep you will

sail;

d sickness or danger thy footsteps encounter, e prayers of a friend then perhaps may prevail! friend, (John believe me) who ne'er will forget hen he kneels in "the house" of his Maker to pray, Christian "content" 16 and a "conscience" un

clouded

99 17

■y shed their bright rays o'er thy perilsome way; ven the maiden whose beauty hath circled

e links of affection so close round thy heart, the arrows of Sorrow will suffer more keenly hen Necessity whispers, "Tis time ye should part." ven a brother more deeply could sorrow,

d oh! Heaven grant that e'en yet I may claim, eaven-taught ties 16of affection encircled,

hail thee as brother, not merely in name;

before, (you remember,) the blood which so nobly urs in "time-honor'd" streams through the veins of thy line,

6 Heb. xiii. 5.

17 Acts xxiv. 16.

18 Rom. xii. 9.