Imatges de pàgina
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THE WOMAN THAT'S EQUALLED BY NONE.

"O WOMAN, WOMAN,-what can I call thee more?

If ANGEL, less."

"Let her peer

Into the world's wide casket-she will find

No gem of love like mine."

HERE's a merry good-health to the girl of my soul,
In a bright foaming bumper of grape;

Her name shall be mute, but let every man's bowl
Brim high for his mistress's sake.

And whilst the ripe nectar, delighted, we sip,

Be this the fond toast of each one,

(As the last rosy drop redly swims on his lip)
"The woman that's equall'd by none."

Dear woman, we owe thee the debt of our love,

Our homage, our truth, is thy right,

Since by day that sweet wreath of enchantment is wove, Which we wear on thy bosom at night.

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THE WOMAN THAT'S EQUALLED BY NONE.

Then whilst the ripe nectar, delighted, we sip,
Be this the fond toast of each one,

(As the last rosy drop redly swims on his lip,)
"The woman that's equall'd by none."

There are many will tell thee they love very true,
And pledge their light faith in a sigh,

Tho' I fear in my heart, that the number are few
Who adore so devoutly as I.

But whilst the ripe nectar, delighted, we sip,
Be this the fond toast of each one,

(As the last rosy drop redly swims on his lip,)
-" The woman that's equall'd by none."

And now, ere we part, let me say what I think, (For my soul is athirst to be blest)

"May we each the moist kisses of dear woman drink From the fountain of bliss we love best."

So, whilst the ripe nectar, delighted, we sip,

Be this the fond toast of each one,

(As the last rosy drop redly swims on his lip,) "The woman that's equall'd by none.

THE LOVER'S ECHO.

"Man is capricious, jealous, free,
Vain, insincere, and trifling too,

And yet the women all agree,

For want of better-he MUST do."

"This then my prayer-O fond and constant be,
Constant and fond I'll ever be to thee."

ONE evening as lately I stray'd by the wave,
While the sun in his sea-bed was sinking to rest,

A sigh and a thought to my heart-dear I gave,
And thus told the secret that burn'd in my breast:
"I love-but alas! am I lov'd in return?"
When echo repeating, said—" Lov'd in return."

With rapture I answer'd—“ Sweet daughter of air,
Thou hast brighten'd my mind with the light of thy spell,
Thou hast stream'd like a meteor of joy, o'er my care,
And tenderly whisper'd me hope from thy cell.

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Yet tell me, lone maid, if there's trueness in man?
Lo! echo sigh'd softly-" There's trueness in man.”

Out of breath I exclaim'd-" O but tell me of this

And I'll fondly believe it is heaven that I hear, O tell me, thou babbler, thou handmaid of bliss, O tell if my lover be warm and sincere.

O tell me, I pray, if he's fervent and true?"

Kind echo made answer-" He's fervent and true."

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Thanks, thanks, dearest echo, for all I have heard,

And now, ere we part, thy best tidings express, "Tis the "last time of asking," so waft me a word That is spelt with a Y, with an E, and an S.

Shall I soon be a bride ?-tell me quick, No or Yes! Would you believe it, dear echo distinctly said— "Yes."

WHAT IS A SIGH?

"Sighs with success their own soft anguish tell."

In those four words-" What is a sigh ?"
How much of grief and pleasure lie?

In those four slender words are met

Life's enigmatic alphabet!

The question's put, you wait reply,

List, and I'll tell thee "what's a sigh."

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In grief, a sigh" is like the rose,

Around whose stem the rank weed grows;

The weed the infant bud will press

The rose will die in its caress;

So grief will on the love-lorn sit,

And choke the heart that pillows it.

But then a "6 sigh"-to wit, like mine, (And, reader, such, I hope, as thine)—

C

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