They, spectral like, athwart the wand'ring gaze,
With mournful feelings and with heavy tread,
Are merg'd in Superstition's tangling maze,
And demon terrors haunt their dizzy head,
'Till life itself becomes a thing to dread:
And holy visions, that enchant and thrill,

Afar on their mysterious way have fled,
Whilst in the gloomy convent, lone and still,
The Priest directs the human conscience and the will!

A brighter vision doth the muse inspire-
The dismal priest begins to lose his might-

A Luther bids the fearled serfs aspire,

To view Religion's pure and sacred light, And for the cause of Freedom nobly fight! The scroll of ages bears recorded plain, The countless struggles to obtain the right: 'Twas Genius tuned the heavenly strain, Which thrill'd the glowing souls of that majestic train!

Emblem of Progress! what sweet visions rise,

To tinge the mystic theme of history's plan! What changing forms and customs worn arise,

To greet the range of Fancy's wand'ring scan, And speed the slow development of man, Which felt thy power, in all its might supreme; Thy holy pilgrimage on earth began,

To bid Philosophy and Science dream,

To wake and give the world their glorious woven theme.

The stately fabrics, reared by human skill,

In all the splendour of Athenian ART—

The proud mementos of the HUMAN WILL,
And all the treasures of the world's huge mart,
That with ANTIQUITY could not depart,
Are touches of thy firm and plastic hand.
Child of devotion!-deep within the heart
Of Progress, with a purpose high and grand,
In regal glory thou dost wield thy magic wand!

The pyramids stupendous and secure,
And relics model'd by the sons of Greece,
Which, in artistic grandeur, do endure,

Upon Tradition's page to reign in peace,
While circling ages one by one increase,-
Do all retain impressions that pourtray,

As Progress from Oblivion's arms release
The thoughts prolific of the Poet's lay:
Thy touch, O Genius! doth save them from decay!

Angel of earth! thy glorious form serene,

In an eternal YOUTH doth glide along,

To scatter love and truth divine between

The rankling elements of HUMAN WRONG,
And free the WEAK, oppressed by the STRONG.
Oh! what were earth without the smiles of joy,
Which to thy faithful votaries belong?

'Twere a wild domain, but yielding life's alloy

A spot which TRUTH would flee, and TIME would soon destroy!

I CARE NOT WHAT YOUR CREED MAY BE.

I care not what your creed may be,

I ask, are you sincere?

If yes, with pride you answer me,
I cannot but revere !

I may, urged on by what I feel,

With Reason's voice persuade,
But never, with the Bigot's zeal,
Will I my tongue degrade.

The birds, in varied plumage, wend
Their free and wand'ring flight;
The flowers in beauteous colours bend
Beneath the gazing wight;

And each a mark'd distinction claims

From others of its kind,

A something which to man proclaims
The character of mind.

D

The wide expanse, o'er-arching all,
In majesty and pride,

That dwells within this earthly ball,
Presents a surface wide,

On which, in changing shapes, we see~
As rolls the car of Time-
Shadows distinct in density,

As well as worlds sublime!

There's not a ray of sunshine bright,
Nestling upon the flower,

There's not a lunar beam of light
That greets the midnight hour,
But what contains its own degree
Of lustre-weak or strong-
And speaks of change-diversity-
The law of Nature's throng!

Then cast away opinions, fraught
With Cant or Bigot rule,

That, with ungen'rous aim, are taught
In Custom's wrangling school.
Nature comes forth to give relief,

Where thought is chain'd by fear,

And man, by manhood, not belief,
Must hold his fellow dear.

Think not, ye cringing sons of earth,

Who dare not stand erect,

That men may judge your moral worth— They will not soon detect

Your living falsehood, to acquire

The treach'rous smiles of gold

For which, your every day desire,

Your liberty is sold!

Nature, with all her mystic power,
Speaks wisdom to the mind;

There's nought in her mysterious bower
But differs from its kind:

Yet man, "the noblest work of God,"
Giving her voice no heed,
Presumes to wield a tyrant rod,

For difference of creed.

Shake off the narrow creeds that rise

By man's enfeebled sight,

Drink wisdom from the boundless skies-
To differ is your right;

But do not hold another's heart
In bondage, to proclaim

A Creed in which it has no part,
For such will be your shame!

I do not ask you to become

A slave in thought and deed,
And coward-like, affect to roam,
Far from your conscious creed;
But this I ask, will ye assist

In all where we agree,

And from the Bigot's blinding mist
The human heart set free?

If Yes, you answer, that to me
Is all that I require,
Tho' in opinion I may see
Enough to speed desire-

I ne'er can gaze on Nature's face,
Or delve her treasur'd mine,

And then degrade our common race,
With dogmas" undivine."

SERENADE.

Awake! sweet lady-love! from out thy sleep

The drowsy night hath fled;

And morn, in silver crest, comes o'er the deepArise from out thy bed!

Come, lady-love! the fields of earth are gay,
And greet with joy the sun;

And messengers do beckon thee away,
As well, thy loving one!

Awake! sweet lady-love! why sleep so calm,

As tho' in thy dear breast

No thought or passion gave thy soul alarm,
And death had giv'n thee rest.

Sweet lady-love! come, leave thy downy nest,
And we'll together rove;

Thy slumbers are too long-come,

My dearest lady-love!

leave thy rest,

Sweet lady-love! the morn is flush'd with dewsAll things look fair and bright,

And blush, i' the golden sun's resplendent hues, To give the soul delight!

Sweet lady-love! thy sleep is o'er at last,
And smiles beam in thine eye;
Together we'll away, and leave the past,
To gaze on earth and sky!

SHE MERRILY, MERRILY CHEERS!

Oh! sweetly she sings in the morn,
Like a rose-bud of beauty appears,

And lightly she trips as a fawn,
And merrily, merrily cheers!

Her voice hath a beauty and charm,
A mellow and love-giving grace;

Her life is a summer of calm,

And love is the queen of her face;