But never confess'd, bear me witness, ye moon,
To priestess of loveliness, like unto thee.

Then, lady, vouchsafe, ere the stranger-one roam,

A minstrel's devotion and truth to insure,
Ere beckoned away to his far-distant home,

O smile once again on the lone Troubadour.

If hallowing beauty be reckon'd a crime,

Then then am I guilty, most deeply, of this ; And since the sweet sin is in worshipping thine, Absolve me, dear girl, with a pardoning kiss.

Then, lady, vouchsafe, ere the stranger-one roam,

A minstrels devotion and truth to insure,
Ere beckon'd away to his far-distant home,

O smile once again on the lone Troubadour.

Soft, soft, be thy slumbers, sweet Lily of Love,

As sighs that commingle when fond bosoms meet,
And, whither thy destiny calls thee to rove,
May thy warm young heart never hopelessly beat.

Then, lady, vouchsafe, ere the stranger-one roam,

A minstrel's devotion and truth to insure,
Ere beckoned away to his far-distant home,

O smile once again on the lone Troubado

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.

14

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-0 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, saidą“ Lov'd in return.”

With rapture I answer'd“ Sweet daughter of air,

Thou hast brightend 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.

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.”

“ 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.”