"Yet here's a kiss for my mother dear, She clad herself in a russet gown, The lily-white doe Lord Ronald had brought Dropt her head in the maiden's hand, Down stept Lord Ronald from his tower: "If I come drest like a village maid, "Play me no tricks," said Lord Ronald, O, and proudly stood she up! Her heart within her did not fail: She look'd into Lord Ronald's eyes, And told him all her nurse's tale. He laugh'd a laugh of merry scorn; He turn'd and kiss'd her where she stood: "If you are not the heiress born, And I," said he, "the next in blood,- "If you are not the heiress born, And I," said he, "the lawful heir, We two will wed to-morrow morn, And you shall still be Lady Clare.' Lord Tennyson. THE ROMANCE OF THE SWAN'S NEST. Little Ellie sits alone 'Mid the beaches of a meadow By a stream-side on the grass; She has thrown her bonnet by, Little Ellie sits alone, And the smile she softly uses Fills the silence like a speech, While she thinks what shall be done, Little Ellie in her smile The swan's nest among the reeds. "And the steed shall be red-roan, With an eye that takes the breath: As his sword strikes men to death. "And the steed it shall be shod All in silver, housed in azure, And the mane shall swim the wind; And the hoofs along the sod Shall flash onward and keep measure, Till the shepherds look behind. "But my lover will not prize All the glory that he rides in, When he gazes in my face: He will say, 'O Love, thine eyes Build the shrine my soul abides in, And I kneel here for thy grace!' “Then, ay, then he shall kneel low, For the world must love and fear him "Then he will arise so pale, I shall feel my own lips tremble With a yes I must not say: Nathless maiden-brave, 'Farewell,' I will utter, and dissemble'Light to-morrow with to-day!' "Then he 'll ride among the hills "Three times shall a young foot-page Swim the stream and climb the mountain And kneel down beside my feet'Lo, my master sends this gage, Lady, for thy pity's counting! What wilt thou exchange for it?' "And the first time, I will send "Then the young foot-page will run, "He will kiss me on the mouth Then, and lead me as a lover Through the crowds that praise his deeds: And, when soul-tied by one troth, Unto him I will discover That swan's nest among the reeds." Little Ellie, with her smile Not yet ended, rose up gayly, Tied the bonnet, donn'd the shoe, And went homeward, round a mile, Just to see, as she did daily, What more eggs were with the two. Pushing through the elm-tree copse, Past the boughs she stoops-and stops. Ellie went home sad and slow. If she found the lover ever, With his red-roan steed of steeds, Elizabeth Barrett Browning. SCENE FROM HENRY THE FOURTH. Enter King HENRY, NORTHUMBERLAND, Worcester, HOTSPUR, Sir WALTER BLUNT, and others. King. My blood hath been too cold and temperate, Unapt to stir at these indignities, As you have found me; for, accordingly, I will from henceforth rather be myself, Our House, my sovereign liege, little deserves The scourge of greatness to be used on it; And that same greatness too which our own hands King. Worcester, get thee gone; for I do see You were about to speak, my Lord Northumberland. Either envy, therefore, or misprision Is guilty of this fault, and not my son. Hot. My liege, I did deny no prisoners. And 'twixt his finger and his thumb he held He gave his nose, and took 't away again; And still he smiled and talk'd; And, as the soldiers bore dead bodies by, |