And there I sought her-oft in secret sought her, In greenwood lone, the livelong summer day. Watching the flitting clouds, the fading flowers, And then, mine idle tears (ah, silly maiden !) And then I loved to haunt lone burial places, To think of passing bells-of death and dying- The white shroud all with flowers and rosemary Strewed o'er by loving hands!-But then 'twould grieve me Too sore, forsooth! the scene my fancy drew;— I could not bear the thought, to die and leave ye; And I have lived, dear friends! to weep for you. And I have lived to prove that fading flowers Are life's best joys, and all we love and prizeWhat chilling rains succeed the summer showers, What bitter drops, wrung slow from elder eyes. ABJURATION. And I have lived to look on Death and dying, 215 To count the sinking pulse-the shortening breath: To watch the last faint life-streak flying-flying,To stoop to start to be alone with-Death. And I have lived to wear the smiles of gladness, When all within was cheerless, dark, and coldWhen all earth's joys seemed mockery and madness, And life more tedious than a tale twice told." And now-and now, pale pining Melancholy ! Away-avaunt! No longer now I call ye Give me the voice of mirth, the sound of laughter- So, in his desperate mood, the fool hath spoken- If we but kiss it, as the stroke descendeth, Mine be that holy, humble tribulation— No longer feigned distress-fantastic woe,— I know my griefs,—but then my consolationMy trust, and my immortal hopes, I know. THE END OF TIME. "And I saw another mighty Angel come down from Heaven, clothed with a cloud; and a rainbow was upon his head; and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot upon the earth, and cried with a loud voice. And the Angel which I saw stand upon the sea, and upon the earth, lifted up his hand to Heaven; and sware by Him that liveth for ever and ever, who created Heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things that therein are, that there should be time no longer!" REVELATIONS, Chap. x. I SAW an Angel on a cloud, Come floating through the air; The Heavens looked like the world's dark shroud, And eke the middle clime; Earth reeled beneath his ponderous weight, Tumultuous and sublime. A garb of light he rouud him cast, Heaven's radiant arch entwined his brow THE END OF TIME. 217 Of majesty divine), Seal of the Covenant firm and sure, The Heavens drew back to let him pass,- The mountains skipped to and fro, Upon a mountain's rugged height With arms uplifted to the sky, And who created earth and sea That-Time should be no more! Earth quakéd at the fatal sound, It reached creation's utmost bound; He stretched his arm up to the sun, And thence pulled forth that mighty one, And hurled him to the sea: The moon grew pale with wild affright, The stars withdrew their glimmering light,- LYRE. U 218 THE END OF TIME. The mountains melted to their base, The light still dim and dimmer grew, The earth, the sky, the sea; THE HEBREW MOTHER. BY MRS. HEMANS. THE rose was in rich bloom on Sharon's plain, Met her sweet serious glance, rejoiced to think |