Till Angel ranks look down to find
The Poet and the Lyre combined;
Seraphs who feel their heavenly mirth,
Increased by bliss like theirs on earth,
There low on twilight's clouds recline,
And mix melodious hymns with mine.
5th mo. 18th, 1849.

FROM THE SPANISH. A MELODY.
"Ven, Ninfer! adonde el ecclamor floresie."

COME, Maid, where the pomegranates flower,
Fenced round by the ivy's green shade,
Where the cedars and cypresses tower
To the growth that the abèle has made.

This retreat, circled round by the river,

Come, O come for the spot is all mine;

And its gift, to make richer the giver,

When thou comest, darling Maid, will be thine.

Why linger? what fortune detains thee?

Why still in suspension and fear

Keep the hope that does nothing but pain me
Till thou, darling Maid, shalt appear?

A garland, a garland of roses,

Kept cool on the bough of the tree,

And white lilies, white lilies in posies,

Darling girl, have been waiting for thee.

Even now, where the pomegranates flower,
Fenced in by the ivy's green shade,
Where the cedars and cypresses tower,

Even here, comes my own darling Maid!

6th mo., 1849.

6th mo.,

THE REPLY.

I COME where the pomegranates flower,
Fenced round by the ivy's green shade,
Where the cedars and cypresses tower,
I come as thy own trustful Maid.

What wonder if something delayed her!
O call it not doubting or fear;

'Twas the rush of the heart that betrayed her,
When it beat that the moment was near.

Like the barque to all winds, with precision
Man varies his course and concerns,
Her centre is woman's decision,

Round that her futurity turns.

What are gifts to be lavished upon her
With nobility only his own,

Where his wisdom, truth, virtue, and honour
Are the jewels she asks for her crown.

If his love be not yon flowing river,
Fresh, constant, and flushed to the brim,
His gifts! they return to the giver,

But she has lost all things in him!
1849.

HYMN.*

(BY GIROLAMO SAVANAROLA, WRITTEN ABOUT MCCCCXCV.)

"Viva, viva in nostro core,

Cristo re duce, e signore!"

"Hail! all hail! in heart adored,
Christ, our gentle King and Lord '"

I.

LET each one his understanding
Cleanse, and in his will resign
Earthly toys and vain affections;
Let him melt in love divine.

* Version made for R. R. Madden, writing the life of Savanarola.

Look to Christ, our King, regarding
All His bounties, old and new,
So with fasting and repentance
Deeds and inmost heart renew.

II.

If you wish that Jesus triumph
By His grace your heart above,
All its hatred and disdaining

Changed for gentle, gentle love.
Every hateful feeling banished,

Such their inborn peace can tell ; Here in heart, and there in Heaven, Jesus loves with them to dwell.

III.

Gentle Jesus, O how blessed

He who turns the world away!
His the breast whose daily state is
Ever pleasant, calm, and gay.
Therefore are my feelings troubled,
That for dust and chaff abroad
We should lose not that sweet guerdon,
Which is Jesus Christ our Lord.

IV.

Rouse thee, then, O thou Benign One! 'Gainst the world-wide Pharaoh's might,

Casting down the old red dragon,

Evil turn to swanlike white.

Rouse e'en now thy royal lion,

With the tribe of Judah's sword,

Whom to look upon is horror,
Where thy vial has been poured.

V.

Blessed be the Virgin Mother,
Blessed Jesus Christ our love,
Blessed be the gracious Pastor
Of the Sacred hosts above,

Who to those that sat in darkness

Caused the Light to break-e'en thus

Let us call for, living, dying,

Christ to dwell Himself with us.

3rd mo., 1853

SONNET OF BENARDO TASSO TO GIULIA GONZAGA.

(ABOUT 1536.)

"Donna real! la rui beltà infinita."

WITH His own hand the ever-blest Creator,
O Royal Lady! fashioned Thee to shine,
A radiant presence, that to Him, thy Maker,
Thou shouldst draw many in the Life Divine.
Thine eyes' calm lustre chastest love uniting
With actions worthy of perpetual name,
Show an example evermore inviting

Where Beauty leads along the paths of fame.

Virtue with mind, power with gentleness,

Go with Thee forth, as with the day the sun,
Or as the stars in galaxy possess

Their shining field, and heavenly circles run.
The step, the smile, the intellect, the speech-
Beauty in motion !-with emotion teach
What Beauty's highest graces are in each.

8th mo. 14th, 1863.

BERNARDO TASSO TO GIULIA GONZAGA.*
(ABOUT 1550.)

"Pellegrina gentil, che questa e quella."

O GENTLE Pilgrim, seeking where to find
The truth and goodness of the Perfect Mind,
To make thine own more lovely and refined;

* Sonnet 155, Rime, ed. 1749, t. 1, p. 113.

Star of the Morning, whose resplendent glow,
To guide us from this world of shades below,
Lights the safe path in which our steps should go ;
Gem, where the Image of thy God, in clear
And lovely impress is displayed, and near
Each form of glory and of goodness here.
Divine Idea, Goddess-like to be

Glass of His Truth, our Supreme Good to see; Blest is the Soul that yearns in sighs for Thee! 8th mo. 30th, 1863.

IN PRAISE OF THE LADIES.

Imitated from the Spanish of Castillejo.
THIS world would be to pleasure closed,
And poor without the Ladies,-
A mart where goods lie unexposed,
And poverty displayed is.

Without them, life were but a scroll,
A town of consternation,

A body heartless, and a soul

Lost on the wind's gyration;

A tree that flower and fruit has none,

A barque without conductor,

A castle without corner-stone

To bear the superstructure.

What worth are we, with all our toils?
What are we, or what merit,

If Woman's wiles and Woman's smiles
Are not with us to share it?

To whom we dedicate the end

Of all our thoughts and actions,

On whom attend, towards whom we bend
Our cares and satisfactions.