FAIRY FAVOURS

And would not fear, at my coming, then
Hush every voice in the homes of men ?
Would not bright eyes in my presence quail?
Young cheeks with a nameless thrill turn pale?—
No gift be mine that aside would turn

The human love for whose founts I yearn.

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Wouldst thou then read through the hearts of those
Upon whose faith thou hast sought repose?
Wear this rich gem! it is charmed to show
When a change comes over affection's glow :
Look on its flushing or fading hue,

And learn if the trusted be false or true.

Keep, keep the gem, that I still may trust,
Though my heart's wealth be but poured on dust!
Let not a doubt in my soul have place,
To dim the light of a loved one's face;

Leave to the earth its warm sunny smile-
That glory would pass could I look on guile !

Say, then, what boon of my power shall be,
Favoured of spirits! poured forth on thee?
Thou scornest the treasures of wave and mine,
Thou wilt not drink of the cup divine,
Thou art fain with a mortal's lot to rest-
Answer me! how may I grace it best?

Oh! give me no sway o'er the powers unseen,
But a human heart where my own may lean!
A friend, one tender and faithful friend,
Whose thoughts' free current with mine may
And, leaving not either on earth alone,
Bid the bright calm close of our lives be one!

blend ;

MEETING OF THE BROTHERS*

"His early days

Were with him in his heart."-WORDSWORTH.

THE Voices of two forest boys,

In years when hearts entwine,

Had filled with childhood's merry noise
A valley of the Rhine :

To rock and stream that sound was known,
Gladsome as hunter's bugle-tone.

The sunny laughter of their eyes
There had each vineyard seen;
Up every cliff whence eagles rise

Their bounding step had been;
Ay! their bright youth a glory threw
O'er the wild place wherein they grew.

But this as day-spring's flush was brief,
As early bloom or dew;

Alas! 'tis but the withered leaf

That wears the enduring hue!
Those rocks along the Rhine's fair shore
Might girdle in their world no more.

For now on manhood's verge they stood, And heard life's thrilling call,

As if a silver clarion wooed

To some high festival:

Founded on a tale in L'Hermite en Italie.

MEETING OF THE BROTHERS

And parted as young brothers part,
With love in each unsullied heart.

They parted. Soon the paths divide
Wherein our steps were one,
Like river branches, far and wide
Dissevering as they run;

And making strangers in their course
Of waves that had the same bright source.

Met they no more? Once more they met,
Those kindred hearts and true!
'Twas on a field of death, where yet
The battle-thunders flew,

Though the fierce day was wellnigh past,

And the red sunset smiled its last.

But as the combat closed, they found
For tender thoughts a space,
And even upon that bloody ground
Room for one bright embrace,
And poured forth on each other's neck
Such tears as warriors need not check.

The mists o'er boyhood's memory spread
All melted with those tears,

The faces of the holy dead

Rose as in vanished years;

The Rhine, the Rhine, the ever-blest,
Lifted its voice in each full breast!

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The soul of childhood's purity

And peace might turn again.

A ball swept forth-'twas guided well-
Heart unto heart those brothers fell!

Happy, yes, happy thus to go!
Bearing from earth away
Affections, gifted ne'er to know
A shadow-a decay-

A passing touch of change or chill,
A breath of aught whose breath can kill.

And they, between whose severed souls,

Once in close union tied,

A gulf is set, a current rolls

For ever to divide ;

Well may they envy such a lot,

Whose hearts yearn on-but mingle not.

THE SISTERS

[THIS ballad was composed for a kind of dramatic recitative, relieved by music.]

"I GO, sweet sister! yet, my heart would linger with

thee fain,

And unto every parting gift some deep remembrance

chain:

Take, then, the braid of Eastern pearls which once I loved to wear,

And with it bind for festal scenes the dark waves of thy hair!

THE SISTERS

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Its pale pure brightness will beseem those raven tresses

well,

And I shall need such pomp no more in my lone convent-cell."

"Oh, speak not thus, my Leonor! why part from kindred love?

Through festive scenes, when thou art gone, my steps no more shall move!

How could I bear a lonely heart amid a reckless throng?

I should but miss earth's dearest voice in every tone of

song.

Keep, keep the braid of Eastern pearls, or let me proudly twine

Its wreath once more around that brow, that queenly brow of thine."

"Oh, wouldst thou strive a wounded bird from shelter to detain?

Or wouldst thou call a spirit freed to weary life again?

Sweet sister! take the golden cross that I have worn

so long,

And bathed with many a burning tear for secret woe

and wrong.

It could not still my beating heart! but may it be a sign Of peace and hope, my gentle one! when meekly pressed to thine."

"Take back, take back the cross of gold, our mother's gift to thee

It would but of this parting hour a bitter token be;