THE FRESH-WATER SIREN. 149 



After all, there were gentlemen miss'd as before, 

 And the water-witch throve as she'd thriven of yore. 

 But 'twas vain now for wives of bereavement to chatter, 

 For the senate declared, having sat on the matter, 

 That the grievance in question was certainly crushed, 

 And that all future murmurs must therefore be hushed. 



But cheer up, all ye widows, (whose loss is no gain,) 

 A champion is near to avenge all your pain ! 

 Cheer up, wives and maidens, dismiss your alarms ! 

 Not long the foul Siren shall work her fell charms : 

 Look not down to the earth but look up on high, 

 Your deliverer comes cutting athwart the blue sky ! 



On light sprays hung, 



By silk cords slung, 

 O'er-arched by a silken dome, 



Is the airy hall, 



With water-proof wall, 

 Where the Siren makes her home. 



By a waving screen 



Of emerald green, 

 Her bower is girt about ; 



But a lucent gleam 



From the sparkling stream, 

 Looks in from the world without. 

 K 2 



