All under the tree, Thy bed may be, And thou may'st slumber peacefully. Maiden! once gay pleasure knew thee, Yet, poor maiden, do not weep: There's rest for thee, All under the tree, Where thou wilt sleep most peacefully. CCLXII. THE ERLE-KING *. O! who rides by night through the woodlands so wild? And close the boy nestles within his lov'd arm, * It is necessary the reader should be informed that in the legends of Danish superstition, certain mischievious spirits are supposed to preside over the different elements, and to amuse themselves with inflicting calamities o "O father! O father! see yonder"! he says, The Phantom speaks. "O wilt thou go with me, thou loveliest child? "O father! O father! and did you not hear The Phantom. "O wilt thou go with me, thou loveliest boy? man.-One of these is termed the Water-King, another the Fire-King, and a third the Cloud-King. The hero of this piece is the Erle or Oak-Kinga fiend who is supposed to dwell in the recesses of the forest, and thence to issue forth upon the benighted traveller to lure him to his destruction. O father! O father! and saw you not plain The Erle-King's pale daughter glide past thro' the rain?” · O no, my heart's treasure; I knew it full soon, It was the grey willow that danc'd to the moon.' The Phantom. "Come with me, come with me, no longer delay, Or else, silly child, I will drag thee away." “ O father! O father ! now, now keep your hold, The Erle-King has seized me,-his grasp is so cold." Sore trembled the father, he spurr'd thro' the wild, CCLXIII. FRIENDSHIP, LOVE, AND TRUTH 1. When "Friendship, Love, and Truth" abound Among a band of Brothers, The cup of joy goes gaily round, Each shares the bliss of others: Composed for a Society whose motto was "Friendship, Love, and Truth." Sweet roses grace the thorny way, The flowers that shed their leaves to-day, How grand in age, how fair in youth, Are holy Friendship, Love, and Truth! On halcyon wings our moments pass, Old Time lays down his scythe and glass, How grand in age, how fair in youth, From these delightful fountains flow How grand in age, how fair in youth, CCLXIV. STAY, GLORIOUS PAGEANT, STAY! SCENA-Alfred in the Neatherd's Cot. Time, Midnight ;-Starting from a disturbed Slumber. RECITATIVE. Stay, glorious pageant, stay! it flies! it fades! Poor rushen mat, art thou my regal chair? As build's a grave, remains to fallen Alfred- CANZONET. Oh England! my mother, thy zone thou entwinest, Thy robe flows dishevell'd-thy locks fall unbound On liberty's lap-thy pale head thou reclinest, And sadly, yet smilingly, points to thy wound. Come away, is thy song, come away to thy grave, In death there's a country left free for the brave. |