MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.

STANZAS.

THE radiant dawn, the year's fresh spring,
New leaves and opening flowers,

Are lovelier than the loveliest thing
That breathes of later hours.

How beautiful the first sweet light
To human features given,

For infant innocence is bright

With glory brought from Heaven!

The golden locks, the smooth fair face,
The round limbs sleek and small,
With witchery of unconscious grace
The gazer's heart enthral.

A lovely and a loving child

That smiles in sinless glee,

Hath oft the sternest breast beguiled
To sweet idolatry.

When like a cherub from above,

Thus smiled my own glad boy, My fond heart overflowed with love, And almost ached with joy.

And Oh! his sister angels fair
With all their winning ways
Would make me quite forget that care
Could darken mortal days.

Those forms have passed beyond the seas,

And now no more I hear
Light laughs, like happy harmonies,
From some diviner sphere.

In silent rooms my slow tread wakes
Fit sounds for sorrow's mood;

Through my soul's cloud no sunbeam breaks :
And home's a solitude!

Calcutta, 1840.

SONNET.

It is not fear that fills the poet's mind
With images of death, but love profound
For all that tread the flower-embroidered ground,
For all that float upon the wave or wind.
Such love broods ever on the lot assigned

To mortal life. The charms of sight and sound-
Faces divine-green fields—and rills that bound
O'er pebbles bright, or in dim coverts find
A tone responsive in the whispering trees,-
All nature-all mankind-all breathing things,
Are precious to the Muse. To part from these
Is pain unspeakable; and Death whose wings.
Shut out the sun, and make the warm blood freeze,
E'en o'er the undying soul a shadow flings.

Familiar things-a bird-a flower-
A river, grove, or hill,

If linked to pleasant dreams, have power
When fate proclaims the farewell hour

The tender heart to thrill.

III.

A scene that charms no stranger's eye-
The simplest household ware—

May breathe perchance of bliss gone by,

Or bid the pensive bosom sigh

With retrospective care.

IV.

If common things thus stir the heart-
If every heart endures

Some touch of pain when doomed to part,

What pangs through tenderer breasts must dart! What pangs, dear friends, are yours!

V.

The charms the twilight past endears
For you no more may smile;

You look your last through farewell tears
On dearest friends of happiest years,

On Ocean's loveliest Isle.*

VI.

Yet grieve not as the ungrateful grieve
With idle discontent;

To hope no cherished thing to leave—
A lasting web of bliss to weave—

For man was never meant.

VII.

Ye need not weep as some may weep
Who pass us like the wind,

And while their distant course they keep,
O'er sultry land or billowy deep,

Leave no dear trace behind.

VIII.

Oh! look around this festal board-
How many a heart is here

The treasures of the past to hoard,

Your deeds of kindness to record,
Your memory to revere !

Penang, December, 1842.

• Penang.

STANZAS.

I.

How beautiful are hill and dale, and meadow, grove, and river! The bright waves clash with silver sound, the green leaves shine and quiver.

I hear the sheep-bell's distant tone, the birds are loud and gay, And fragrance floating on the breeze proclaims approaching May!

II.

How beautiful are hill and dale, and meadow, grove, and river!
Methinks on this Arcadian ground 'twere bliss to dwell for ever;
Not fairer hues could Fancy's self to this sweet scene impart,
To charm the painter's raptured eye or poet's panting heart!

III.

How beautiful are hill and dale, and meadow, grove and river!
Oh! what a rich domain hath man! How bounteous is the Giver!
If from this earthly paradise might care and sin be driven,
Oh! who for sweeter home would yearn, or seek a happier heaven?

AN ACROSTIC.

HATH she not an aspect fine,
Air and features half divine ;
Riches misers could not measure,
Rarest of the best heart's treasure ;
Innocence and friendship true?—
Eh! says HARRIET, tell me who?
This, sweet Lady, this is you!