The priest he was standing in the quire: The winsome maid, to herself said she, He stepped o'er one stool, he stepped o'er two: He stepped o'er three stools, he stepped o'er four: She gave him her hand of the drifted snow: They went from the kirk with the bridal train; "Now wait thee, love, with my steed so free, And when they passed to the white, white sand, But when they were out in the midst of the sound, Long, long on the shore, when the winds were high, I rede ye, damsels, as best I can, . Tread not the dance with the Water-man ! THEODORE MARTIN. BLACK-EYED SUSAN. 39 SWEET WILLIAM'S FAREWELL TO ALL in the Downs the fleet was moored, The streamers waving in the wind, When black-eyed Susan came aboard. 66 'Oh, where shall I my true-love find? Tell me, ye jovial sailors, tell me true, If my sweet William sails among your crew." William, who high upon the yard Rocked with the billows to and fro, Soon as her well-known voice he heard, He sighed and cast his eyes below; The cord slides swiftly through his glowing hands, And quick as lightning on the deck he stands. So the sweet lark, high poised in air, Shuts close his pinions to his breast, "O Susan, Susan, lovely dear, My vows shall ever true remain; Let me kiss off that falling tear; We only part to meet again. Change as ye list, ye winds: my heart shall be The faithful compass that still points to thee. "Believe not what the landsmen say, Who tempt with doubts thy constant mind: They'll tell thee sailors when away In every port a mistress find. Yes, yes, believe them when they tell thee so, "If to fair India's coast we sail, Thy eyes are seen in diamonds bright, Thy breath is Afric's spicy gale, Thy skin is ivory so white. Thus every beauteous object that I view "Though battle call me from thy arms, Love turns aside the balls that round me fly, The boatswain gave the dreadful word, The sails their swelling bosom spread; No longer must she stay aboard; They kissed, she sighed, he hung his head. Her lessening boat unwilling rows to land: "Adieu!" she cries, and waved her lily hand. JOHN GAY. THE BALLAD OF THE BOAT. 41 THE BALLAD OF THE BOAT. THE `HE stream was smooth as glass; we said, “Arise, and let's away!" The Siren sang beside the boat that in the rushes lay; And spread the sail and strong the oar, we gayly took our way. When shall the sandy bar be crossed? when shall we find the bay? The broadening flood swells slowly out o'er cattledotted plains, The stream is strong and turbulent, and dark with heavy rains; The laborer looks up to see our shallop speed away. When shall the sandy bar be crossed? when shall we find the bay? Now are the clouds like fiery shrouds; the sun, superbly large, Slow as an oak to woodman's stroke, sinks flaming at their marge; The waves are bright with mirrored light as jacinths on our way. When shall the sandy bar be crossed? when shall we find the bay? The moon is high up in the sky, and now no more we see The spreading river's either bank, and surging dis tantly There booms a sullen thunder, as of breakers far away. Now shall the sandy bar be crossed, now shall we find the bay! The sea-gull shrieks high overhead, and dimly to our sight The moonlit crests of foaming waves gleam towering through the night. We'll steal upon the mermaid soon, and start her from her lay, When once the sandy bar is crossed, and we are in the bay. What rises white and awful as a shroud-enfolded ghost? What roar of rampant tumult bursts in clangor on the coast? Pull back! pull back! The raging flood sweeps every oar away. O stream, is this thy bar of sand? O boat, is this the bay? R. GARRETT. THE SEA-MAID. A MAIDEN came gliding o'er the sea, In a boat as light as boat could be; And she sang in tones so sweet and free, |