WATER-LILIES.

A FAIRY SONG.

COME away, elves! while the dew is sweet,
Come to the dingles where fairies meet;
Know that the lilies have spread their bells
O'er all the pools in our forest dells;
Stilly and lightly their vases rest

On the quivering sleep of the water's breast,
Catching the sunshine through leaves that throw
To their scented bosoms an emerald glow;
And a star from the depth of each pearly cup,
A golden star unto heaven looks up,

As if seeking its kindred where bright they lie,
Set in the blue of the summer sky.

-Come away! under arching boughs we'll float, Making those urns each a fairy boat;

We'll row them with reeds o'er the fountains free,
And a tall flag-leaf shall our streamer be,

And we'll send out wild music so sweet and low,
It shall seem from the bright flower's heart to flow,
As if 't were a breeze with a flute's low sigh,
Or water drops train'd into melody.

-Come away! for the midsummer sun grows strong,
And the life of the lily may not be long.

‡ THE BROKEN FLOWER.

OH! wear it on thy heart, my love!
Still, still a little while!

Sweetness is lingering in its leaves,
Though faded be their smile.

Yet, for the sake of what hath been,
Oh, cast it not away!

'Twas born to grace a summer scene,
A long, bright, golden day,

My love!

A long, bright, golden day!

A little while around thee, love!
Its fragrance yet shall cling,
Telling, that on thy heart hath lain,

A fair, though faded thing.

But not even that warm heart hath power

To win it back from fate:

-Oh! I am like thy broken flower,

I WOULD we had not met again!

I had a dream of thee,

Lovely, though sad, on desert plain,
Mournful on midnight sea.

What though it haunted me by night,
And troubled through the day?
It touched all earth with spirit-light,
It glorified my way!

Oh! what shall now my faith restore In holy things and fair?

We met-I saw thy soul once more—. The world's breath had been there!

Yes! it was sad on desert-plain,
Mournful on midnight sea,

Yet would I buy with life again
That one deep dream of thee!

FAIRIES' RECALL.

WHILE the blue is richest
In the starry sky,
While the softest shadows
On the greensward lie,
While the moonlight slumbers

In the lily's urn,

Bright elves of the wild wood!

Oh! return, return!

Round the forest fountain,

On the river shore,

Let your silvery laughter

Echo yet once more;

While the joyous bounding
Of your dewy feet
Rings to that old chorus:
"The daisy is so sweet!"

Oberon, Titania,

Did your starlight mirth,
With the song of Avon,
Quit this work-day earth?
Yet while green leaves glisten,
And while bright stars burn,

By that magic memory,

Oh, return, return!

THE ROCK BESIDE THE SEA.

OH! tell me not the woods are fair,
Now Spring is on her way;
Well, well I know how brightly there
In joy the young leaves play;
How sweet on winds of morn or eve
The violet's breath may be ;—
Yet ask me, woo me not to leave
My lone rock by the sea.

The wild wave's thunder on the shore,
The curlew's restless cries,

Unto my watching heart are more

Than all earth's melodies.

1 See the chorus of Fairies in the "Flower and the Leaf" of Chaucer.

Come back, my ocean rover! come!
There's but one place for me,
Till I can greet thy swift sail home-
My lone rock by the sea!