POEMS FOR MUSIC.

Sonante mixtum tibiis carmen lyra.

HORAT.

COME, TOUCH THE HARP!

COME, touch the harp, my gentle one!
And let the notes be sad and low,
Such as may breathe, in every tone,
The soul of long ago!-

That smile of thine is all too bright
For aching hearts and lonely years,
And-dearly as I love its light,—
To-night, I would have tears!

Yet, weep not thus, my gentle girl!
No smile of thine has lost its spell,
By heaven! I love thy lightest curl,
Oh! more than fondly well!—

Then, strike the lyre, and let it wile
All thoughts of grief and gloom away,
While thou art by, with harp and smile,
I will not weep, to-day!