Then the lark dropt down to his mate
By her nest on the dewy ground;
And the stir of human life

Died away to a distant sound—

All sounds died away-the light laugh--
The far footstep-the merry call—
To such stillness, the pulse of one's heart
Might have echoed a rose-leaf's fall-

And, by little and little, the darkness
Waved wider its sable wings,
Till the nearest objects and largest
Became shapeless confused things-

And, at last, all was dark-then I felt
A cold sadness steal over my heart,
And I said to myself, "Such is life!
So its hopes and its pleasures depart!

"And when night comes-the dark night of age,

What remaineth beneath the sun

Óf all that was lovely and loved?

Of all we have learnt and done?

"When the eye waxeth dim, and the ear
To sweet music grows dull and cold,
And the fancy burns low, and the heart-
Oh, Heavens! can the heart grow old?

"Then, what remaineth of life

But the lees with bitterness fraught? What then?"-But I check'd as it rose, And rebuked that weak, wicked thought.

And I lifted mine eyes up, and, lo!
An answer was written on high
By the finger of God himself,

In the depths of the dark blue sky.

There appeared a sign in the east-
A bright, beautiful, fixed star!-
And I look'd on its steady light
Till the evil thoughts fled afar—

And the lesser lights of Heaven

Shone out with their pale soft rays,

Like the calm unearthy comforts
Of a good man's latter days-

And there came up a sweet perfume
From the unseen flowers below,
Like the savour of virtuous deeds,
Of deeds done long ago;

Like the mem❜ry of well-spent time--
Of things that were holy and dear-

Of friends, "departed this life

In the Lord's faith and fear."

So the burthen of darkness was taken

From my soul, and my heart felt light;

And I laid me down to slumber

With peaceful thoughts that night.

How sweet thy modest light to view, Fair STAR, to love and lovers dear!

While trembling on the falling dew
Like beauty shining through a tear.

Or, hanging o'er that mirror-stream,

To mark that image trembling there, Thou seem'st to smile with softer gleam, To see thy lovely face so fair.

Though, blazing on the arch of night,

The moon thy timid beams outshine As far as thine each starry light;Her rays can never vie with thine.

Thine are the soft enchanting hours

When twilight lingers on the plain, And whispers to the closing flowers, That soon the sun will rise again.

Thine is the breeze that, murmuring bland
As music, wafts the lover's sigh,
And bids the yielding heart expand
In love's delicious ecstasy.

Fair STAR! though I be doom'd to prove

That rapture's tears are mix'd with pain,

Ah! still I feel 'tis sweet to love!
But sweeter to be lov'd again!

TO AN INDIAN GOLD COIN.

SLAVE of the dark and dirty mine!

What vanity has brought thee here? How can I love to see thee shine

So bright, whom I have bought so dear?The tent-ropes flapping lone I hear

For twilight converse, arm in arm;

The jackal's shriek bursts on mine ear When mirth and music wont to charm.

By Chérical's dark wandering streams,
Where cane-tufts shadow all the wild,
Sweet visions haunt my waking dreams
Of Teviot lov'd, chill, still, and mild,
Of castled rocks stupendous pil'd

By Esk or Eden's classic wave,

Where loves of youth and friendship smil'd, Uncurs'd by thee, vile yellow slave!

Fade, day-dreams sweet, from memory fade! The perish'd bliss of youth's first prime, That once so bright on fancy play'd,

Revives no more in after time.

Far from my sacred natal clime, I haste to an untimely grave;

The daring thoughts that soar'd sublime Are sunk in ocean's southern wave.

Slave of the mine! thy yellow light

Gleams baleful on the tomb-fire drear

A gentle vision comes by night

My lonely widow'd heart to cheer;