THE MAIDEN OF THE CAVE.

But her dark eyes were dimm'd with tears,
Because the home of childhood's years

In solitude lay far away;

And how could she be glad and gay?
Better than lordly hall or bower,
She loved her rocky, lonely shore.
She was a Corsair's child; no scene
Of radiant joy her soul could wean

From that dear home. Now, morn and night,
She wanders by the waters bright;

And when at eventide the gale

Wafts home the Corsair's swelling sail,

She stands beside the murmuring tide,
Her kerchief floated high, to guide
Her father o'er the darkening wave,

To their own solitary cave.

What though that cavern-home be rude,
With sand and tangled sea-weed strew'd,
She would not change that solitude,
That ceaseless music of the flood,
For the proud city's courtly halls,
Where stately mirrors on the walls
Show maidens bright of noble birth,
And forms too fair for sinful earth.
She hath her father's gentle smile,
Gentle to her, though stern the while,
And dark with wrath or angry pride
His brow may be to all beside.
She sings at eve her simple song,

While twilight's shade is o'er her flung; 'My own bright sea, thy sounding wave Makes melody around our cave;

Oh! may I never, never roam
From thee, again, my cavern-home!"

19

THE SERENADE.

It is a lovely hour! the perfumed air

Scarce stirs the rose, or waves the jasmine fair;
Orange and myrtle flowers of beauty rare
Breathing their fragrance, brightly blossom near;
The firefly glows; glancing with fitful ray,
Mid the soft radiance of departing day;

The nightingale pours forth her plaintive song,
Flinging her melody the groves among;

While stars look forth from the calm heaven above,
And universal nature whispers love.

Whence is that gush of music? List again!

A manly voice pours forth a fervent strain:

What is the lay he breathes? the oft-told tale
Of love that fails not, that can never fail!
Which " nought can move, nor menace to remove;

If there be love in mortals," his is love!
And thus he wooes his bosom's Queen to bless
The "stilly night" with her own loveliness.

"Come forth beneath the starlight

With thine own starry eyes;
Bright as those gems of heaven,
Soft as these evening skies!
From fresh dawn to the sunset
I dream of this still hour;
Come forth, my Love, and bless me,
I wait thy voice once more!

"Sweet is the red-rose, glowing,
The myrtle's snowy shower;
The violet in its meekness,
The hyacinth's rich flower;
I see their buds and blossoms,

But they are nought to me;
Thou art lovelier, in thy beauty—
Sweet one! I come to thee!