Shall give, to call life's crew together,

The word to pipe all hands.

Thus Death, who kings and tars despatches,
In vain Tom's life has doffed,
For, though his body's under hatches,
His soul is gone aloft.

Robert Nicoll.

Born 1814. Died 1837.

WILD FLOWERS.

BEAUTIFUL children of the woods and fields!

That bloom by mountain streamlets 'mid the heather,
Or into clusters, 'neath the hazels, gather,-

Or where by hoary rocks you make your bields,
And sweetly flourish on through summer weather—

Beautiful flowers! to me ye fresher seem
From the Almighty hand that fashioned all,
Than those that flourish by a garden-wall;

And I can image you, as in a dream,

Fair, modest maidens, nursed in hamlets small :—

I love ye all!

Beautiful gems! that on the brow of earth
Are fixed, as in a queenly diadem ;

Though lowly ye, and most without a name,
Young hearts rejoice to see your

buds come forth,

As light erewhile into the world came,—

I love ye all!

Beautiful things ye are, where'er ye grow!
The wild red rose the speedwell's peeping eyes—
Our own bluebell—the daisy, that doth rise
Wherever sunbeams fall or winds do blow;

And thousands more, of blessed forms and dyes,— all!

I love ye

Beautiful nurslings of the early dew!

Fanned in your loveliness, by every breeze,
And shaded o'er by green and arching trees :

I often wish that I were one of

you,

Dwelling afar upon the grassy leas,—
I love ye all!

Beautiful watchers! day and night ye wake!
The evening star grows dim and fades away,
And morning comes and goes, and then the day

Within the arms of night its rest doth take;

But ye are watchful wheresoe'er we stray,—
I love ye all!

Beautiful objects of the wild-bee's love!

The wild-bird joys your opening bloom to see,

And in

your

native woods and wilds to be.

All hearts, to nature true, ye strangely move;

Ye are so passing fair-so passing free,—
I love ye all !

Beautiful children of the glen and dell—

The dingle deep-the moorland stretching wide,
And of the mossy fountain's sedgy side!

Ye o'er my heart have thrown a lovesome spell;
And, though the worldling, scorning, may deride,—
I love ye all!

Matthew Gregory Lewis.*

Born 1773. Died 1818.

ALONZO THE BRAVE AND THE FAIR IMOGENE.

A WARRIOR SO bold and a virgin so bright,
Conversed as they sat on the green;

They gazed on each other with tender delight:
Alonzo the Brave was the name of the knight-
The maiden's, the Fair Imogene.

Generally known as " Monk" Lewis from his well-known romance called "The Monk."

"And oh !" said the youth, "since to-morrow I go, To fight in a far distant land,

Your tears for my absence soon ceasing to flow,
Some other will court you, and you will bestow
On a wealthier suitor your hand!"

"Oh! hush these suspicions," Fair Imogene said, "Offensive to love and to me;

For, if you be living, or if you be dead,

I swear by the Virgin that none in your stead
Shall husband of Imogene be.

"If e'er, by caprice or by wealth led aside,
I forget my Alonzo the Brave,

God grant that, to punish my falsehood and pride,
Your ghost at the marriage may sit by my side-
May tax me with perjury, claim me as bride,
And bear me away to the grave!"

To Palestine hastened the hero so bold,

His love she lamented him sore;

But scarce had a twelvemonth elapsed, when, behold!
A baron, all covered with jewels and gold,
Arrived at Fair Imogene's door.

His treasures, his presents, his spacious domain,
Soon made her untrue to her vows;

He dazzled her eyes, he bewildered her brain;
He caught her affections, so light and so vain,
And carried her home as his spouse.

And now had the marriage been blest by the priest ; The revelry now was begun;

The tables they groaned with the weight of the feast, Nor yet had the laughter and merriment ceased, When the bell at the castle tolled-one.

Then first with amazement Fair Imogene found
A stranger was placed by her side:

His air was terrific; he uttered no sound—

He spake not, he moved not, he looked not around— But earnestly gazed on the bride.

His vizor was closed, and gigantic his height,

His armour was sable to view;

All pleasure and laughter were hushed at his sight;
The dogs, as they eyed him, drew back in affright;
The lights in the chamber burned blue !

His presence all bosoms appeared to dismay;
The guests sat in silence and fear;
At length spake the bride—while she trembled-

"I pray,

Sir knight, that your helmet aside you would lay,
And deign to partake of our cheer.”

The lady is silent-the stranger complies

His vizor he slowly unclosed;

Oh, God! what a sight met Fair Imogene's eyes!
What words can express her dismay and surprise,
When a skeleton's head was exposed!