And still live in the by-places TO T. L. H. A CHILD. MODEL of thy parent dear, Have hemmed thy faultless weakness in, Near thy sinless bed black Guilt Her discordant house hath built, And filled it with her monstrous brood Sights, by thee not understood Sights of fear, and of distress, That pass a harmless infant's guess! But the clouds, that overcast Thy young morning, may not last; Soon shall arrive the rescuing hour That yields thee up to Nature's power; Nature, that so late doth greet thee, Shall in o'erflowing measure meet thec. She shall recompense with cost Then wandering up thy sire's loved hill,* Of health and pastime. Birds shall sing 'Mid new-yeaned lambkins thou shalt play, Then thy prison's lengthened bound Shall be the horizon skirting round: And, while thou fillest thy lap with flowers, That sour restraint had graven there; And on thy every look impress So shall be thy days beguiled, BALLAD. FROM THE GERMAN. THE clouds are blackening, the storms threatening, "The world is empty, the heart is dead surely, Living right lovingly." * Hampstead. DAVID IN THE CAVE OF ADULLAM. DAVID and his three captains bold Kept ambush once within a hold. Nigh which no water they could have, To quench the thirst that parched them there. Straight bethought him of a well, At Bethlem; where, before his state Oft drunk his fill, a shepherd lad; To execute his will did fly. The mighty Three the ranks broke through For David, their beloved king, At his own sweet native spring. Back through their armed foes they haste, Of your three lives this thing ye did, SALOME. ONCE on a charger there was laid, It was on Herod's natal day, Who o'er Judea's land held sway. He married his own brother's wife, Wicked Herodias. She the life Of John the Baptist long had sought, Because he openly had taught That she a life unlawful led, Having her husband's brother wed. This was he, that saintly John, Who in the wilderness alone Abiding, did for clothing wear A garment made of camel's hair; Honey and locusts were his food, And he was most severely good. He preached penitence and tears, And waking first the sinner's fears, Prepared a path, made smooth a way, For his diviner Master's day. Herod kept in princely state His birth-day. On his throne he sate, All in that land for dancing well. The feastful monarch's heart was fired, And whatso'er thing she desired, Though half his kingdom it should be, He in his pleasure swore that he Would give the graceful Salome. The damsel was Herodias' daughter. The damsel back; to Herod said, Hither straightway brought to me." When painters would by art express Thee, Herodias' daughter, thee, They give thy form and features grace; A cruel triumph, wicked pride, That for your sport a saint had died. LINES SUGGESTED BY A PICTURE OF TWO FEMALES BY LIONARDO DA VINCI. THE lady Blanch, regardless of all her lover's fears, To the Urs'line convent hastens, and long the Abbess hears, "O Blanch, my child, repent ye of the courtly life ye lead." Blanch looked on a rose-bud and little seemed to heed. |