ITALIAN GIRL'S HYMN TO THE VIRGIN. O sanctissima, o purissima! Dulcis Virgo Maria, Mater amata, intemerata, Ora, ora pro nobis. Sicilian Mariner's Hymn. In the deep hour of dreams, Through the dark woods, and past the moaning sea, And by the star-light gleams, Mother of Sorrows! lo, I come to thee. Unto thy shrine I bear Night-blowing flowers, like my own heart, to lie All, all unfolded there, Beneath the meekness of thy pitying eye. 18 For thou, that once didst move, In thy still beauty, through an early home, Thou know'st the grief, the love, The fear of woman's soul;-to thee I come! Many, and sad, and deep, Were the thoughts folded in thy silent breast; Hear, gentlest mother! hear a heart opprest! There is a wandering bark Bearing one from me o'er the restless waves; Oh! let thy soft eye mark His course ;-be with him, Holiest, guide and save! My soul is on that way; My thoughts are travellers o'er the waters dim Through the long weary day, I walk, o'ershadow'd by vain dreams of him. Aid him, and me, too, aid! Oh! 'tis not well, this earthly love's excess! On thy weak child is laid The burden of too deep a tenderness. Too much o'er him is pour'd My being's hope-scarce leaving Heaven a part; Too fearfully adored, Oh! make not him the chastener of my heart! I tremble with a sense Of grief to be ;-I hear a warning low Sweet mother! call me hence! This wild idolatry must end in woe. The troubled joy of life, Love's lightning happiness, my soul hath known; And, worn with feverish strife, Would fold its wings;-take back, take back thine own! Hark! how the wind swept by! The tempest's voice comes rolling o'er the waveHope of the sailor's eye, And maiden's heart, blest mother, guide and save! TO A DEPARTED SPIRIT. 1 FROM the bright stars, or from the viewless air, Answer me, answer me! Have we not communed here of life and death? Have we not said that love, such love as ours, Was not to perish as a rose's breath, To melt away, like song from festal bowers? Answer, oh! answer me! Thine eye's last light was mine-the soul that shone Intensely, mournfully, through gathering haze |