PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. 'Twas midnight dark, Swift o'er the waters bore him, Shoot o'er the wave before him. "She comes from the Indian shore, When morning shone He saw the gold still clearer; But though so fast The waves he passed, That boat seemed never the nearer ! Bright daylight came, And still the same While on the prize His wishful eyes Like any young lover's doated: "More sail! more sail!" he cries, While the waves o'ertop the mast; And his bounding galley flies, Like an arrow before the blast. Thus on, and on, Till day was gone, And the moon through heaven did hie her, He swept the main ; But all in vain— That boat seemed never the nigher! And many a day To night gave way, While still his flight, Through day and night, Who knows-who knows what seas And that mocking bark before! For oh, till sky And earth shall die, And their death leave none to rue it, That boat must flee O'er the boundless sea, And that ship in vain pursue it! MOORE. LADY CLARE. It was the time when lilies blow, I trow they did not parle in scorn ; Lovers long betrothed were they : "He does not love me for my birth, In then came old Alice the nurse; Said, "Who was this that went from thee?""It was my cousin," said Lady Clare; "To-morrow he weds with me." "O God be thanked!" said Alice the nurse, "That all comes round so just and fair; Lord Ronald is heir of all your land, And you are not the Lady Clare." 66 Are ye out of your mind, my nurse, my nurse," Said Lady Clare, "that ye speak so wild?”"As God's above," said Alice the nurse, "I speak the truth-you are my child. The old Earl's daughter died at my breast- "Falsely, falsely have ye done, O mother," she said, "if this be true; "Nay, now, my child," said Alice the nurse; "If I'm a beggar born," she said, "Nay, now, my child,” said Alice the nurse, 66 But keep the secret all ye can." She said, "Not so; but I will know If there be any faith in man." "Nay, now, what faith?" said Alice the nurse; 'The man will cleave unto his right." "And he shall have it," the lady replied, "Though I should die, to-night!" "Yet give one kiss to your mother, dear! Alas, my child, I sinned for thee." "O mother, mother, mother," she said, Yet here's a kiss for my mother dear, And bless me, mother, ere I go." She clad herself in a russet gown; The lily-white doe Lord Ronald had brought Down stepped Lord Ronald from his tower: "O Lady Clare, you shame your worth! Why come you dressed like a village maid, That are the flower of the earth?" "If I come dressed like a village maid, "Play me no tricks," said Lord Ronald, For I am yours in word and deed ; "Play me no tricks," said Lord Ronald; Your riddle is hard to read." Oh, and proudly stood she up! Her heart within her did not fail; She looked into Lord Ronald's eyes, And told him all her nurse's tale. He laughed a laugh of merry scorn; He turned and kissed her where she stood: "If you are not the heiress born, And I," said he, "the next in blood-- If you are not the heiress born, TENNYSON. LORD WILLIAM. No eye beheld when William plunged Submissive, all the vassals owned The ancient house of Erlingford And often the wayfaring man But never could Lord William dare In vain, at midnight's silent hour, Sleep closed the murderer's eyes; In every dream, the murderer saw Young Edmund's form arise! In vain, by restless conscience driven, |