University of Virginia Library

FRAGMENTS.

MILTON.

What varied music breathes throughout thy pages!
'Tis now a brook meandering along;
Then dreamy voices calling to past ages;
Anon an ocean surging deep and strong,
Then like the muttered words of thoughtful sages,
Or lisping maiden-voices, such as throng
The old green forests, warbling low and sweet,
And then a mazy dance, with merry twinkling feet.

THE GRAVE OF A POETESS.

Let her be laid within a silent dell,
Where hanging trees throw round a twilight gleam,
Just within hearing of some village-bell,
And by the margin of a low-voiced stream;
For these were sights and sounds she once loved well.
Then o'er her grave the star-paved sky will beam;
While all around the fragrant wild-flowers blow,
And sweet birds sing her requiem to the water's flow.

THE DEAD BEE.

Oh, cruel Mary! thou hast killed a bee,
That but mistook thy red lips for a rose,
Lured by that sweetness which has oft lured me
Upon their velvet softness to repose:
It sought some lovely flower; so fixed on thee,
And at thy honied fountain did but sip;
It left no sting behind, but cheerfully
Resigned its flowery life on thy sweet lip.
Nay, do not weep—it died a happy bee.

TO GEORGE M---.

Yes, I do love thee well, my child!
Albeit mine's a wandering mind;
But never, darling, hast thou smiled
Or breathed a wish that did not find
A ready echo in my heart.
What hours I 've held thee on my knee,
Thy little rosy lips apart;
Or, when asleep, I 've gazed on thee,
And with old tunes sung thee to rest,
Hugging thee closely to my bosom;
For thee my very heart hath blest,
My joy, my care, my blue-eyed blossom!

A DREAM.

Oh! I had fearful dreams all yesternight,—
Dim beckoning shapes were hovering round my pillow,
Then wrecks, and drowning men rose on my sight,
And one I loved swept by upon a billow;
I saw her long hair in the foamy light,—
Shrieking she vanished, holding out her hand;—
The noise of breakers woke me, roaring on the sand.

THE VIOLET.

A simple violet by a ruined wall.—
How small a key unlocks the human heart!
That flower did many a bygone scene recall,
Bidding the clouds from buried years depart:
Again my fancy flew to forests green,
And one was with me robed in virgin-white;
We traversed many a well-remembered scene,
And lingered in the old wood's dreamy light,—
And then I sighed, and knew such things had been,
Like a bright day, closed by a cheerless night.

LIFE.

Oh! Life and Friends like seasons pass away.
We stepped light-hearted forth to meet the Spring,
But scarcely had begun our childish play,
Ere full-leaved Summer leaped into the ring,
And looked around, but deigned no longer stay,
For solemn Autumn came with faded wing,
And scarce had time to gaze upon our game,
When he too fled—then wrinkled Winter came.