BRIDAL BALLAD.

THE ring is on my hand,

And the wreath is on my brow; Satins and jewels grand

Are all at my command,

And I am happy now.

And my lord he loves me well;

But, when first he breathed his vow

I felt my bosom swell

For the words rang as a knell,

And the voice seemed his who fell

In the battle down the dell,
And who is happy now.

But he spoke to re-assure me,

And he kissed my pallid brow
While a reverie came o'er me,
And to the church-yard bore me,
And I sighed to him before me,
Thinking him dead D'Elormie,
"Oh, I am happy now!"

And thus the words were spoken,
And this the plighted vow,
And, though my faith be broken,

And, though my heart be broken,

Behold the golden token

That proves me happy now!

Would God I could awaken!

For I dream I know not now, And my soul is sorely shaken Lest an evil step be taken,Lest the dead who is forsaken May not be happy now

TO F

BELOVED! amid the earnest woes

That crowd around my earthly path-(Drear path, alas! where grows Not even one lonely rose)

My soul at least a solace hath

In dreams of thee, and therein knows
An Eden of bland repose.

And thus thy memory is to me

Like some enchanted far-off isle

In some tr multuous sea

Some ocean throbbing far and free

With storms-but where meanwhile Serenest skies continually

Just o'er that one bright island smile.

VOL. II.-4.

SCENES FROM "POLITIAN;

AN UNPUBLISHED DRAMA.

I.

ROME. A Hall in a Palace. Alessandra and Castiglione

Alessandra. Thou art sad, Castiglione.

Castiglione. Sad!-not I.

Oh, I'm the happiest, happiest man in Rome!

A few days more, thou knowest, my Alessandra,

Will make thee mine. Oh, I am very happy!

Aless. Methinks thou hast a singular way of showing Thy happiness-what ails thee, cousin of mine?

Why didst thou sigh so deeply?

Cas. Did I sigh?

I was not conscious of it. It is a fashion,

A sil v-a most silly fashion I have

When I am very happy. Did I sigh?

(sighing.)

Aless. Thou didst. Thou art not well. Thou hast indulged Too much of late, and I am vexed to see it.

Late hours and wine, Castiglione,-these
Will ruin thee! thou art already altered-

Thy looks are haggard-nothing so wears away
The constitution as late hours and wine.

Cas. (musing.) Nothing, fair cousin, nothing-not even deep

80rrow-.

Wears it away like evil hours and wine.
I will amend.

Aless. Do it! I would have thee drop
Thy riotous company, too-fellows low born-
Ill suit the like with old Di Broglio's heir
And Alessandra's husband.

Cas. I will drop them.

Aless. Thou wilt-thou must. Attend thou also more
To thy dress and equipage-they are over plain
For thy lofty rank and fashion-much depends

Upon appearances.

Cas. I'll see to it.

Aless. Then see to it !-pay more attention, sir,
To a becoming carriage-much thou wantest
In dignity.

Cas. Much, much, oh much I want

In proper dignity.

Aless. (haughtily.) Thou mockest me, sir!

Cas. (abstractedly.) Sweet, gentle Lalage!
Aless. Heard I aright?

I speak to him he speaks of Lalage!

Sir Count! (places her hand on his shoulder) what art thou dreaming? he's not well!

What ails thee, sir?

Cas. (starting.) Cousin! fair cousin !—madam!

I crave thy pardon-indeed I am not well

Your hand from off my shoulder, if you please.

This air is most oppressive !-Madam-the Duke!

Enter Di Broglio.

Di Broglio. My son, I've news for thee !-hey?—what's the matter? (observing Alessandra.)

I' the pouts? Kiss her, Castiglione! kiss her,
You dog! and make it up, I say, this minute!

I've news for you both. Politian is expected
Hourly in Rome-Politian, Earl of Leicester!

We'll have him at the wedding.

To the imperial city.

Aless. What! Politian

Of Britain, Earl of Leicester ?

Di Brog. The same, my love.

"Tis his first visit

We'll have him at the wedding. A man quite young
In years, but grey in fame. I have not seen him,
But Rumour speaks of him as of a prodigy
Pre-eminent in arts and arms, and wealth,

And high descent. We'll have him at the wedding.
Aless. I have heard much of this Politian.

Gay, volatile and giddy-is he not?
And little given to thinking.

Di Brog. Far from it, love.

No branch, they say, of all philosophy
So deep abstruse he has not mastered it.
Learned as few are learned.

Aless. 'Tis very strange!

I have known men have seen Politian

And sought his company. They speak of him
As of one who entered madly into life,
Drinking the cup of pleasure to the dregs.

Cas. Ridiculous! Now I have seen Politian

And know him well-nor learned nor mirthful he.
He is a dreamer and a man shut out

From common passions.

Di Brog. Children, we disagree.

Let us go forth and taste the fragrant air
Of the garden. Did I dream, or did I hear
Politian was a melancholy man?

(exeunt.)