And in blossomed vale and grove But that time is gone and past, Can the summer always last? And the swains are wiser grown, And the heart is turned to stone, And the maiden's rose may wither; Oh, for the old true-love time, JOHN CROWNE. WISHES FOR OBSCURITY. How miserable a thing is a great Oh, wretched he who, called abroad THOU HAST SWORN BY THY GOD. Then foul fa' the hands that wad THOU hast sworn by thy God, my Jeanie, By that pretty white hand o' thine, And by a' the lowing stars in heaven, That thou wad aye be mine; And I hae sworn by my God, my Jeanie, And by that kind heart o' thine, By a' the stars sown thick owre heaven, That thou shalt aye be mine. loose sic bands, Her white arm wad be a pillow for me And luve wad winnow owre us his kind, kind wings, An' sweetly I'd sleep, an' soun'. Come here to me, thou lass o' my luve, Come here, and kneel wi' me! An' I canna pray without thee. The morn-wind is sweet 'mang the beds o' new flowers, The wee birds sing kindlie an' hie; Our gudeman leans owre his kaleyard dyke, And a blithe auld bodie is he. carle comes hame, Wi' the holie psalmodie; Fu' soon I'll follow thee, my lassie, I looked on thy death-cold face, my lassie, I looked on thy death-cold face; Thou seemed a lily new cut i' the bud, An' fading in its place. I looked on thy death-shut eye, my lassie, I looked on thy death-shut eye; An' a lovelier light in the brow o' heaven Fell time shall ne'er destroy. Thy lips were ruddy and calm, my lassie, Thy lips were ruddy and calm; And thou maun speak o' me to thy But gane was the holy breath o' heav She's gane to dwall in heaven: en, To sing the evening psalm. There's naught but dust now mine, lassie, There's naught but dust now mine; My saul's wi' thee i' the cauld grave, An' why should I stay behin'? Ye're owre pure, quo' the voice o' God, A WET SHEET AND A FLOWING For dwalling out o' heaven! SEA. O, what'll she do in heaven, my las- A WET sheet and a flowing sea, O, what'll she do in heaven? A wind that follows fast, And bends the gallant mast "O for a soft and gentle wind!" I heard a fair one cry; And white waves heaving high,- lads, The good ship tight and free; The world of waters is our home, And merry men are we. For full communion; nor sensations, strong, Within the breast, their prison, strive in vain To be set free, and meet their kind in joy. Changed to celestials, thoughts that rise in each By natures new, impart themselves, though silent. Each quickening sense, each throb of holy love, Affections sanctified, and the full glow [one, Of being, which expand and gladden By union all mysterious, thrill and live In both immortal frames;-sensation all, And thought, pervading, mingling sense and thought! Ye paired, yet one! wrapt in a consciousness Twofold, yet single, this is love, this life! And earth seem bare, and hours, once happy, press Upon thy thoughts, and make thy loneliness More lonely for the past, thou then shalt hear The music of those waters ranning near; And thy faint spirit drink the cooling stream, And thine eye gladden with the playing beam That now upon the water dances, now Leaps up and dances in the hanging bough. Is it not lovely? Tell me, where doth dwell The power that wrought so beautiful a spell? In thine own bosom, brother? Then as thine Guard with a reverent fear this power divine. And if, indeed, 't is not the outward state, But temper of the soul by which we rate Sadness or joy, even let thy bosom move With noble thoughts and wake thee into love; And let each feeling in thy breast be given An honest aim, which, sanctified by Heaven, And springing into act, new life imparts, Till beats thy frame as with a thousand hearts. Sin clouds the mind's clear vision from its birth, Around the self-starved soul has spread a dearth. The earth is full of life; the living Hand Touched it with life; and all its forms expand With principles of being made to suit Man's varied powers and raise him from the brute. And shall the earth of higher ends be full, |