We walk upon a world, o'ershadowed high
With the broad concave of the glorious sky,
Spread out to catch the feeblest sounds that fly,
And send them thundering back, 'till you and I
Shall hear our neighbour's softest whispered sigh,
Which he had thought in his own heart did die.
We move amid an atmosphere, which, stirred
With the soft wing of scarcely whispered word,
Rolls on its echoes, till the world has heard,
What he had hoped in silence was interred!

1842.

TO ***

And think'st thou that I love thee not,
Or love thee with but half a heart?
And have these eyes their skill forgot
The secret of the soul to impart?

And hath no glance of kindness shown,
Whence that warm fountain's source may be,

Whose music mounts in every tone,
To speak the love I've felt for thee?

And hast thou seen no sudden light
Upon this brow, when thou wert near-
No rising smile of deep delight,

To whisper that thou wert most dear?
Then hath this brow essayed in vain,
A mirror of my heart to be;
And smiles alone may ne'er explain
The hidden love I've felt for thee.

In courtlier phrase the coxcomb swears,
Than the full heart of love can boast;
More glib the tongue the less it bears—

The shallow streamlet chatters most;

Ne'er toss'd on careless lips have been

The blushing thoughts that dearest be. E'en where the life-blood glides unseen,

Sleeps the deep love I've felt for thee!

A cheek that knows no blush, conceals

A heart unswayed by love's control; And the loud flowing tongue reveals The shallow current of the soul. Oh, far too deep for tongue or eyes To express to stranger ear or e'e, In the soul's holiest chamber lies

The deathless love I've felt for thee! 1843.

And through the halls, where bright lamps shine,

And glancing eyes their secrets tell, Beauty arrays her charms divine.

Like waves the graceful dancers go,

And rosy cheek and brow of snow,

And nimble foot and form of light,

'Neath music's deep commanding swell, Sparkle and sport in circles bright,

Like flowers that play through a summer night, With the singing breeze of a fairy dell.

II.

Saw ye the smile of the parting day,
O'er the earth its splendour throwing?
She hath passed like a sunbeam on her way,
And a hundred cheeks are glowing.

The breeze of the mountain passed over the plain, And the cedars in homage are bending;

Bright Cynthia looked down with a smile on the main,

And upward the billows are tending.

In the vale of Cashmere where the flowers are

bright,

The rose is fair to see;

On Beauty I gazed 'mid the Halls of Light,
And a lovely queen was she!

III.

With head erect and nostril wide,

And hoof that proudly spurns the plain,
With heart of fire and eye of pride,
The gallant steed from his stall hath hied
To lead a gallant train.

For a maiden fair goes forth to ride,

A maid that knows to hold the rein.

The ploughman hath checked the dusty team,
And turns his head to see;

The milkmaid stops the snowy stream,

The children are out with a merry scream,
And the dogs are wild with glee!